Introduction

In an era of unprecedented advancements in technology and the pervasive influence of artificial intelligence (AI), we find ourselves constantly surrounded by algorithms, often oblivious to their impact on our everyday lives and decision-making. Today, algorithms impact almost every aspect of our lives: whether you are a teenager in Madrid, who is scrolling through TikTok, a man in Australia, who is subjected to targeted ads when searching to buy a new TV, or a young woman in Brazil, who uses Google maps to plan her route (Burgess et al., 2022).

Algorithms are a “series of steps which lead to the transformation of some data or production of results based on the data” (Ince, 2019). As digital data becomes a commodity that is prevalent across a variety of contexts, devices, and networks within our environment, we become both producers and consumers of data, which is often “fed back into our everyday lives” through algorithmic decision-making (Burgess et al., 2022).

Thus, it is essential to draw attention to the critical role educators in different sectors, including schools, higher education institutions, public and academic libraries, among others, play in fostering algorithm awareness and promoting AI literacy, equipping learners with the tools to navigate the algorithm-driven information landscape.

This instructor’s manual provides a set of activities aimed at promoting algorithm awareness and literacy within academic libraries and beyond, and thus, serves as a vital resource for educators aiming to champion algorithmic awareness and AI literacy in their institutions. By focusing on three key aspects—raising awareness, providing educational resources, and offering intervention tools—we empower academic librarians and other educators to become proactive in enhancing AI literacy and fostering a critical awareness of the ever-evolving AI ecosystem among learners.