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IZ Level Opt-Out of Embedding the Knowledge Center's AI Assistant in Alma

Background:
The August 2025 Alma release embedded the Knowledge Center's AI Assistant in Alma. There is currently a way for an individual user to hide the Knowledge Assistant but there is not a way for admin users to opt-out their institution if the Knowledge Assistant is not an appropriate tool for their institution.

Request:
Add a new Customer Parameter which allows institution zone admins to opt-out of the Knowledge Center's AI Assistant so it is disabled for all users in Alma.

Alternative option: Create a Knowledge Assistant role and only users with the role have the Knowledge Assistant embedded in Alma.

Why:
The Knowledge Assistant often incorrectly summarizes the Alma documentation and frequently doesn't return information from the correct area of Alma. In addition:
* The underlying Ex Libris documentation is not always correct and sometimes contradicts itself
* An institution may want some users to contact their local campus experts for help rather than reviewing the Ex Libris provided documentation
* The Knowledge Assistant does not know how a particular institution has configured Alma
* The Knowledge Assistant can't return information on the institution's recommendations and best practices
* Policies and reporting requirements around AI usage vary across institutions

Documentation:
Alma 2025 Release Notes - https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2025/Alma_2025_Release_Notes?mon=202508BASE

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Gem Stone-Logan shared this idea  ·   ·  Admin →

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  • Lisa Hatt commented  · 

    Seconding what Gem said. So many people do NOT want AI-related features that there always needs to be a way to turn them off.

  • Gem Stone-Logan commented  · 

    Thanks Uri, this is good to know. As an aside, if a similar feature is being considered for the new knowledge center platform, we would want an IZ-level AI opt-out option for that also.

  • AdminUri Beladev (Product Manager, Ex Libris) commented  · 

    Dear Community,

    The plan is to create a centralized, institution-level AI Features Management configuration page, to consolidate all AI features settings, including enable/disable toggles, feature descriptions, role-based visibility, and links to feature-specific configurations (when relevant), starting with support for the AI Knowledge Assistant.
    This is planned to go live in 2026-H1.

    Thanks,
    Uri Beladev
    Platform, Product Manager

  • Katherine O'Brien commented  · 

    "frequently doesn't return information from the correct area of Alma"

    Agreed, I have had some outright incorrect responses returned in the little testing that I've done.

  • Lisa Hatt commented  · 

    137 votes in a day, not bad.

  • Nancy Babb commented  · 

    It is extremely distressing to be unable to control this setting and opt of the display.

  • Lisa Hatt commented  · 

    I clawed back votes from other suggestions so I could put three votes on this. Forcing in AI tools of questionable use and accuracy (to say nothing of the ethical and energy-use issues inherent in the whole arena) is really getting aggravating.

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