Artificial intelligence is built on data - vast amounts of data. Some of that data is yours. Ideally, each individual determines for themself how, when, and by whom their data is used. In reality, much of that data is scraped from the web without notice or consent. Or collected in security breaches and sold. Furthermore, user data is often collected and used in the training and refining of generative AI models. Different tools have different privacy policies, which often vary based on the level of access a user has purchased. We encourage you to find and read the privacy policies of any tools you plan to use and to be careful about the information that you share with them. Avoid sharing someone else's intellectual property or copyrighted material with these tools. If you aren't sure, you can always ask a librarian!
Small, locally run LLMs offer us the chance to experiment and explore with different models while maintaining a safe and secure environment. Software like LM Studio allows you to download and run LLMs on your device, without your data ever leaving your computer. Here at Williams, Ephbot, a local LLM running on a Raspberry Pi is available for checkout from the Libraries' Equipment Loan Center. See below for more information