AI: From Libraries to Today — Amplifying Human Curiosity.


By Dr. Gregory Lyons, PsyD, LCPC.
9/2/2025.

For centuries, our pursuit of knowledge has been tied to the information that is available to mankind. In earlier times, researchers spent hours in a library, carefully paging through only the written material, such as books, periodicals, and encyclopedias that were available to them at that location, or at that time. This process could have presented an empirical representation of the facts that could have been seen as extremely limited. You could only gather what the shelves held, and only as much as time allowed. Knowledge was precious — but scarce.

The arrival of the internet expanded this process exponentially. Suddenly, information seemed like it was everywhere. What once took days could be found in hours. But the abundance of all this data brought new challenges, some of which were that the reliability and validity of the data collected were sometimes very difficult to prove as viable or correct. Anyone could post an idea or perception, which made it difficult to be trusted at times. What we gained in speed, we risked in accuracy.

How AI Builds Its Replies.

AI is designed to “think” like we do, but it does this in a different approach — it works by drawing on vast resources of text and data it has been trained on. This includes:

When we ask a question, AI doesn’t pull from a single book or website. Instead, it generates a response by combining patterns, references, and probabilities from that training data — and in some cases, from connected tools or up-to-date searches.

Unlike the internet, which leaves us to sift through raw information, AI can filter across countless sources and present knowledge in context. It can draw data from what has already been written, researched, and published. The difference lies in synthesis: AI doesn’t just hand us information, it organizes it to match our curiosity.

Now AI marks the next step — not just expanding access, but refining it. Imagine Tony Stark speaking to Friday in Ironman. Stark doesn’t outsource his genius. He sets the vision, asks the questions, and makes the decisions. But Friday runs the numbers, scans the data, and assembles the options. She does the heavy lifting, allowing Stark to focus on creativity and bold action.

AI has that same potential for scholars, researchers, and everyday people. Instead of replacing thought, it organizes it. Instead of silencing curiosity, it amplifies it. For many people, AI also lowers barriers of embarrassment or hesitation. Sharing a new idea can feel daunting, but testing it with AI provides a neutral, judgment-free space. AI can act as a “first audience” which can help to empower people to clarify thoughts they’d otherwise keep hidden, preparing them to engage more confidently with others.

The Shadow Side of Tools.

Of course, like every tool, AI can be misused. Some apply it to deceive, exploit, or spread harm. That says more about human intention than the tool itself. Some would say that this is one of they fears individuals have when thinking of AI. It can be said that some people had the same fear when the internet became so widely available to individuals across the world. A hammer can build a home or cause destruction; the responsibility rests with the hand that wields it. The same is true of AI.

The Fear of Lost Innovation.

Another concern is that AI may take away human innovation — that if the machine does the heavy lifting, people might grow lazy or dependent. This fear isn’t new. Similar concerns were raised with calculators (“Will students forget how to do math?”), GPS (“Will we lose our sense of direction?”), or even the printing press (“Will memory weaken if people stop memorizing texts?”).

The reality is more nuanced. Tools can dull certain skills if we rely on them uncritically, but they can also free us to innovate in new ways. AI may take on the mechanical side of information gathering and organization, but it cannot provide vision, purpose, or meaning. Those remain deeply human.

Instead of replacing creativity, AI can open the door for more of it — if we remain active participants, using it as a collaborator rather than a substitute.

When seen through this lens, AI is not a crutch but a catalyst. Libraries gave us access. The internet gave us abundance. AI offers focus — the ability to filter, contextualize, and present knowledge in ways we can use. Just as Friday makes Stark more effective, AI can make us more capable, if we remain the ones steering the vision.

The key is balance. Every tool in history — from books to search engines — has required mindful use. AI is no different. But approached with intention, it doesn’t weaken human ability. It frees us to pursue what truly matters: curiosity, creativity, and connection.