Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant idea. It's already transforming how libraries are managed. Alma's next-generation platform is built to make library work faster, smarter, and more intuitive, while keeping the human experience at the center. Every innovation is designed to help librarians focus on what matters most by simplifying tasks, surfacing insights, and enabling more meaningful interactions with data.

One example is Conversational AI, which allows staff to interact with Alma as naturally as speaking to a colleague. Instead of navigating menus or running complex reports, librarians can ask questions in plain language and receive clear, actionable answers, and even take direct actions within the conversation.

Cataloging is also evolving, with tools like the AI Metadata Assistant that automatically generates MARC 21 records from descriptions and images. Looking ahead, expanded batch-processing capabilities will reduce repetitive tasks, improve consistency, and help catalogers manage backlogs with ease.

At the same time, Alma Insights delivers targeted, role-specific information directly in the platform, cutting through data overload. By highlighting what's most important, such as trends in purchase requests, librarians gain the clarity they need to make confident, timely decisions.

Together, these advancements form the foundation of Alma's AI roadmap: a proactive, human-centered platform that supports librarians in their expertise while streamlining the work around them. With this first chapter, we are setting the stage for a future where AI enhances every aspect of the library experience, making it more seamless, more efficient, and more rewarding for staff and patrons alike.