A Simple Framework for Thinking Critically About AI Tools

About a year ago, a librarian was asked to teach graduate students how to think carefully about using AI tools. Instead of just accepting AI as a solution to every problem, the librarian created something called the ACToRS framework — a simple checklist of questions to ask yourself before you use any AI tool.

The framework helps you think about who is involved in using the AI, what the AI was trained on, what it's being used for, and what risks or downsides might exist. Think of it like a safety checklist before you use a new tool. Just because AI can do something doesn't automatically mean you should use it for that task. Maybe it's not accurate enough for your needs. Maybe it raises privacy concerns. Maybe there's a simpler, non-AI way to solve your problem.

This matters for everyday people because AI is now showing up everywhere — in schools, workplaces, healthcare, and personal apps. The framework encourages you to pause and ask: Does this actually help me here? What could go wrong? Who benefits and who might be harmed? It's about being a thoughtful user rather than blindly trusting the technology.

The librarian's approach is spreading because more people realize that understanding how to use AI responsibly is just as important as understanding what AI can do.