This piece written by Dean Jeffcoat is the introduction to the Fall 2025 Newsletter. Read the full issue to learn more about the topics discussed below.
A launchpad for exploration
Our fall newsletter theme is “Human-Powered AI.” In reality, all artificial intelligence is human intelligence. The material that generative AI tools draw from is human-created knowledge. It
is the sum of our collective expressions through literature, opinions, music, art, math, science, humor, philosophy, religion and more.
How we design and use AI systems is a human choice. What we automate, replicate and build through our interactions with AI represents the next leap in assistive technology. AI extends our abilities. It reflects what is possible when human imagination meets computational power. While science fiction may imagine sentient machines, today AI is still a tool to be learned, practiced and refined. Like a tennis racket or a paintbrush, it takes time to master the implement to fit the purpose. When used ethically and thoughtfully, it helps us reach farther, think deeper and create more freely.
Learning any new tool begins with curiosity. It grows through collaboration, experimentation and shared insight. In these pages, we invite you to see how our librarians are engaging in that same process – exploring new ideas, building partnerships and testing how AI can enrich research and learning.
We are a launchpad for exploration grounded in critical thinking and trusted information. We work with faculty to design and evaluate tools that enhance teaching and discovery. We sustain digital resources that propel research and welcome new archivists who preserve and share the primary sources that form the bedrock of human knowledge and, ultimately, of AI itself.
At SMU Libraries, we see ourselves as connectors, creators and partners in the AI journey. We are information professionals working where integrity meets innovation, ensuring that technology remains guided by human purpose. As Kaitlin Siebert reminds us, “history lives best when it’s used.”
AI is the ultimate human-powered tool, and we remain committed to our roots, keeping human expression and creativity at the center as we shape this technology to extend our collective reach.