University libraries are being swarmed by AI bots, putting public access at risk

University libraries are grappling with an influx of AI bots that are overwhelming their systems and disrupting access for students and researchers. These bots, employed by AI companies to gather data for training large language models, are causing significant slowdowns and crashes on library websites. This situation raises concerns about the balance between technological advancement and public access to essential academic resources. The issue underscores the urgent need for better regulation and cooperation to protect library databases from exploitation while maintaining open access for educational purposes.