The 15th Roundtable for School Libraries was held on October 11, 2024, organized by the School Libraries Section of the Croatian Library Association. As part of the roundtable, Full Professor Marijan Herceg, PhD, Head of the Center for Artificial Intelligence – FERIT.AI, gave an insightful lecture titled “Challenges of Artificial Intelligence.”

The main focus of the lecture was on how artificial intelligence (AI) affects society, with an emphasis on the challenges of AI implementation. These challenges include ethical considerations, job displacement, legal and infrastructural demands, energy consumption, and data privacy protection.

Prof. Herceg highlighted the need for transparency and interdisciplinary collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve responsible integration of these technologies, aimed at improving societal well-being.

The 15th Roundtable addressed both the challenges and positive aspects of digital technologies and artificial intelligence for users of school libraries in the Republic of Croatia. Connecting AI with school libraries can enhance the educational experience for students and assist librarians in more efficient resource management. This is why continuous education and professional development for librarians is essential to keep pace with new technologies and working methods. Moreover, collaboration between schools, libraries, and technology experts is crucial for the successful implementation of digital technologies.