AI in Libraries: Seven Principles

Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an increasingly important role in reading, learning and research, the
core activities of the library. The National Library of the Netherlands (KB) appreciates the great
possibilities that AI offers to help us accomplish our mission to make our users smarter, more creative
and more skilled.
At the same time we do not close our eyes for unforeseen and unwanted side effects of AI, which may
raise ethical questions, perhaps more than other forms of digital transformation.
As National Library we feel we have a responsibility in addressing these issues. We have formulated
seven principles we feel any AI-application in the context of the Library should comply with. Seven
principles that takes the potential and the benefits of AI as starting point, and at the same times give
guidelines to avoid ethical pitfalls.