Taking back control about how you interact with technology, protecting your time, your mind, and your privacy. Design an intentional experience of using your smartphones, laptops, and other devices.

This is a hybrid (in-person and virtual), beginner-friendly, non-technical workshop, that is a part of the AI Literacy Interest Group 2026 Book Club Series, where we are discussing Empire of AI by Karen Hao.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine when you want to enable or disable Gen AI tools on your devices

• Understand how to disable Gen AI in commonly used search engines, browsers and software

• Explain what Gen AI-free alternatives and options are available for common tasks

Prerequisites:

• No AI or technology experience required.

• You are welcome to contextualize yourself on the data privacy considerations with the Empire of AI Chapter 2 “A Civilizing Mission” and Chapter 11 “Apex“

Device / Software required:

Please be sure to bring all the devices you would like to deactivate gen AI on.

About the Facilitators:

Beth Twomey: https://www.library.upenn.edu/staff/beth-twomey

Jaj Karajgikar: https://www.library.upenn.edu/staff/jajwalya-karajgikar

Steve Scaduto: https://www.library.upenn.edu/staff/steve-scaduto

This event is a part of the AI Literacy Interest Group at Penn Libraries Book Club series.