The AI Effect
Infophilia and the Global Rich
September 28, 2024, Vol. 2, Issue 41
Welcome to Infophilia, a weekly letter about the human love of information and connections. I continue to be super excited about my second year into this research. Thanks for your support of my work as founding members, paid, and free readers.
An Update and an Invitation
Library Research Seminar 8, as I reported a few weeks ago, was a happy experience and I’m pleased to have had the chance to bring summer to a close on a college campus. I’m still waiting for instructions about uploading the revised version of my paper which includes the Q&A into the UKnowledge repository. I’ll share that link when it’s ready.
I continue to work on the grand theory of infophilia for information studies and it’s application in information literacy is the first demonstration. I’m glad to report that the Infophilia Spectrum Survey aka Infophilic Information Styles, an instrument adapted from various established scales and tests to measure infophilia is ready.
Join our pilot study of the Infophilia Spectrum. In a world where misinformation and disinformation are prevalent, understanding people’s affinity for information is crucial for developing effective strategies to promote critical thinking and limiting the spread of misleading content. I’m looking for study participants and collaborators to help us understand how people place on the infophilia spectrum. You’ll contribute to advancing research and gain insight into your own information habits. If interested, please let me know and I’ll provide details.
Now, here is today’s essay.
Cite as: Coleman, Anita S. (2024, September 28). The AI Effect: Infophilia and the global rich. Infophilia, a positive psychology of information, 2 (41).
Introduction
There are numerous differences between the upper and lower classes, including genes. Being innately articulate is one way to enter and stay in the upper classes; conversely, if you’re always tongue-tied, you’ll probably be downwardly mobile. Michael S. Gazzaniga. The Mind’s Past. UC Press, 1998. p. 31.
One of the significant developments in AI this week is that Sam Altman, founder of OpenAI, will receive equity as the company moves away from non-profit control. The 39-year old Altman, whose net worth is reportedly $1 billion, stands to become even wealthier. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which introduced the world to generative AI and large language models, is transitioning into a for-profit model. While Altman garners headlines for his fortune, Elfreda Chatman’s research into information poverty shaped a quieter, yet profound legacy, and this includes inspiring my own reflections on infophilia. I only saw Dr. Chatman once, at a conference, but her papers were required reading in the Information Behavior courses I taught and made an impact on me as well. I dedicate this essay to Elfreda Chatman (1942 - 2002).