The National Library of Public Information (NLPI) of Taiwan developed Virtual AI Librarian with ChatGPT engine and launched on December 28, 2023.
NLPI is utilizing smart technology to develop virtual intelligent librarians that mimic the appearance of human librarians, complemented by real voice synthesis technology. In a press conference held on December 28, 2023, NLPI revealed the initial outcomes of its AI Librarian project. This groundbreaking initiative represents the nationwide introduction of an intelligent and virtual librarian using generative AI technology in Taiwan. The goal is to enhance library functionality with smart technology, ensuring that NLPI's service to readers not only "Works Smart" but also "Works Intelligence"!
 
Ms. Hsiang-Ping Ma, the Director of NLPI, noted that the development of intelligent librarians was accelerated with the advent of ChatGPT. Research and development for the AI intelligent librarian project began in May 2023, utilizing ChatGPT's generative AI. The project, led by Professor Jung-Sing Jwo and his team from Tunghai University, resulted in the creation of Taiwan's first national AI intelligent librarian named "Xiao Shu" (meaning Familiar with books and smart consultation). This AI librarian employs rapidly advancing generative AI technology and integrates the concept of Digital Twin, enabling real librarians to transform into virtual AI intelligent librarians. "Xiao Shu" offers reader services, reference services, and book recommendations. Readers can inquire about library services, request book recommendations, and engage in conversations with the AI intelligent librarian, enhancing the public's diverse library experience and improving the quality and efficiency of reference services, leading library services to a new milestone.
 
Compared to conventional predictive voice customer service systems that rely on button interactions, the AI intelligent librarian "Xiao Shu" demonstrates an improved understanding of sentences and provides more precise generated responses. After internal testing and training, "Xiao Shu" officially joined the NLPI's AI intelligent librarian team at the end of 2023, assisting with frontline reader services. Ongoing training and optimization are planned to make AI Librarian "Xiao Shu" an effective assistant to readers and a paradigm for the library industry's use of generative AI technology.
 
NLPI and Tunghai University jointly designed and developed the AI intelligent librarian. Microsoft provided support in terms of computing power and technology during the development process. The realization of "Xiao Shu" as an AI intelligent librarian involved breaking through the limitations of traditional predictive artificial intelligence by adopting image generation and ChatGPT's artificial intelligence technology. This ensures that "Xiao Shu" reaches a level similar to that of a real librarian in terms of appearance, conversation, reactions, and interactions. The emergence of "Xiao Shu" marks a new era for Taiwan's library sector in the age of AI.
 
This year marks the centennial of NLPI's establishment. Despite its century-long history, NLPI actively seeks innovation in the rapidly developing era of smart technology, aiming to provide more convenient and intelligent reading services through technology. In addition to the official introduction of the AI intelligent librarian at the press conference, another highlight was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between NLPI and Tunghai University. NLPI possesses national-level digital reading resources, while Tunghai University has abundant teaching resources and research capabilities. Expectations are set for mutual exchange and support in talent, technology, and resources, with both parties leveraging their strengths to jointly promote smart reading and innovative technology browsing services, creating a flexible and diverse lifelong learning environment.