Last week, University of New Mexico Libraries announced that the generative AI chatbot ChatGPT will be replacing all libraries on Main Campus. The change comes after the majority of books in libraries were found to be more useful for paper-eating silverfish and booklice than for students.
On a single flier posted on Zimmerman, UNM Libraries announcement stated that books are now “dead weight” and by switching to ChatGPT, students have access to information in seconds rather than having to roam the stacks to find a book.
UNM librarian Rita Book said replacing UNM Libraries with ChatGPT would streamline the library system and ultimately save space on campus when the libraries are demolished.
“Instead of using our confusing catalog search and entering big, confusing keywords like “math textbook,” “fiction” or “self-help,” why not give students the ability to just ask GPT for a citation on any topic and receive it immediately?” Book said. “It’s even faster than our live chat system because our staff have to eat and go on break and do human stuff.”
UNM sophomore Olive Tapenade said she didn’t know there were libraries on campus.
“I, lowkey, have just been using ChatGPT for all my work. I don’t even need to come to campus,” Tapenade said.
UNM Facilities would haul all physical books to a document destruction service, which will be completed in phases, starting on May 14, according to the email.
The CEO of ChatGPT’s parent company, Sam Altman, was delighted that UNM agreed to be the first campus to replace their library with ChatGPT.
Altman firmly stated that students don’t need books, calling them a “waste of resources” and unlimited access to AI would be of greater service to students than the library.
“AI is efficient both in time and in resources. Libraries are a notorious waste of paper, which is a waste of our precious trees. Then, new trees have to be grown and watered, diverting water from our beautiful, important and efficient data centers,” Altman said.
Altman questioned the need for universities in general.
“Why do we need big, old, outdated buildings like Zimmerman Library just to hold the hunks of bound paper, when just one data center can do the job? Just a warehouse of servers built far away, out of sight, out of mind. Literally. Don’t use your mind,” Altman said.
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Altman celebrated the decision as a win for student mental health as the destruction of the library represented a new era of self-care and blissful ignorance, he said.
“Students can spend more time scrolling on their phones watching reels of cute dancing animals — also made by AI — while AI does all their work for them in seconds,” Altman said. “That’s how we like students to be — nice and reliant on our products. Honestly, maybe OpenAI would actually be profitable if everyone were just brains in vats that we could show advertisements to. That’s a good idea, come to think of it … are you still recording?”
Leila Chapa is the social media and photo editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
