Module 2: Blog Post

I found this module particularly fascinating in relation to the evolution of the book industry and how it has adapted to our ever-changing world. Accumulating knowledge through reading and writing has been a skill present throughout history, but with new developments in technology, particularly regarding social media and AI, it holds a powerful position in our media and academic landscape. In the Article AI, The New Frontier-Opportunities and Challenges, the evolution of artificial intelligence is explored. This article posits AI in a largely positive light, expressing how it can be used to expand our knowledge as individuals and as a tool in both work life and academics. The concept of AI is still relatively new; there is still much more growth that is possible within the scope of AI’s capabilities. A particular concept that I found interesting is the ‘ai effect’, which can be defined as “a phenomenon that arises when machines become increasingly capable and tasks considered as requiring ‘intelligence’ are removed from the definition.” (Gunter, Darrel, 5). The second reading, TikTok for Viral Book Marketing (article) explores how social media, and the video-sharing app TikTok in particular, has been proven to increase the popularity of certain book series, and therefore increase the number of individuals who read literature. I found this article extremely interesting. My perspective before reading this article was that social media decreased the number of individuals who read, as video-sharing and watching are alternatives. However, as the article illustrates, TikTok permits indie authors to advertise their work through humanizing their brands by showcasing their own individual personality, market their work in engaging ways and re-use content throughout other social media platforms such as Facebook.
Overall, Module 2 expressed how emerging and evolving technologies can be seen in a positive light. Not only can they be utilized throughout scholarly work to aid in educating the public, they can also be used to broaden people’s perspectives and encourage them to read, learn, and share their perspectives on literature.
Delemos, R. S. (2021, September 13). TikTok for Viral Book Marketing: Self-published authors are increasingly flocking to the platform to market their books. Publishers Weekly, 268(37), 69.



Gunter, D. (2023). AI, the new frontier - opportunities and challenges: Artificial intelligence is the future for all industries - especially scholarly publishing. Research Information, 4–6. https://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lls&AN=172906330&site=eds-live&scope=site