For an ethics of personalized recommendation at the French National Library

Abstract

AI ethic-related issues are the subject of numerous reflections and contributions from scientific research, institutions and, project operators. We propose to take the example of a service under development at the BnF to step into the conversation. What questions and ethical principles guide the French National Library as it embarks on the development of a personalized content recommendation system powered by artificial intelligence (AI)? How does this approach reflect the institution's overall AI policy? The integration of recommendations into Gallica appears to be an increasingly necessary tool for enhancing the value of its rich and diverse collections while responding to the users’ needs (particularly researchers). Beyond the technical challenge, its implementation raises many ethical concerns – trust, transparency, and avoidance of filter bubbles–and forces the Library to clarify the position it intends to occupy in the documentary landscape. The meaning of recommendation and the definition of the librarian and its role are at stake.