[Update March 25, 2025]
Over the past several months, the initiative ConocimIAfov has been reporting on the most significant advances in the field of artificial intelligence applied to Documentation Sciences, Information Retrieval, and Documental Software Development. Behind each comment and every analysis lay a broader project that I now feel compelled to update with the transparency the situation demands.
The ConocimIA project was launched with a clear purpose: to establish a stable and rigorous observatory on the emergence of artificial intelligence in the field of Library and Information Science. Its objective was to continuously monitor technological advancements, analyze their implications in academic, scientific, and professional contexts, and foster a space where researchers, educators, and professionals could exchange experiences and debate the opportunities and challenges brought about by this transformation.
Throughout its development, the project generated considerable interest. Seminars, workshops, and developed materials received very positive feedback from students and sector professionals, who viewed this initiative as a necessary resource for navigating a paradigm shift whose consequences we are only beginning to comprehend.
Unfortunately, the sustainability of a project of this nature requires not only enthusiasm and dedication, but also institutional support capable of covering the costs of maintenance, dissemination, and continuity. Despite the efforts made, it has not been possible to secure stable backing. In particular, the Faculty of Documentation, to which much of this activity was directed—both to its staff and students—has maintained a position of neutrality that, in practice, has resulted in a lack of recognition and, at times, additional obstacles to implementing planned activities.
Faced with this situation, and after carefully evaluating alternatives, I have decided not to continue maintaining the ConocimIA project in its current form. It is not viable to sustain alone an initiative that, by its very nature, requires ongoing structural support.
Nevertheless, the work accomplished and the materials generated will not disappear. All content produced under the ConocimIA initiative will be integrated into my personal website, mblazquez.es, where it will be categorized under “ConocimIA.” In this way, analyses, reflections, and documentary resources will remain accessible to those who wish to consult them.
Artificial intelligence continues to transform our discipline at an accelerated pace. The space for debate and monitoring that ConocimIA sought to establish remains necessary. I deeply regret that it could not be consolidated as it deserved, but I am confident that the materials remaining accessible will continue to serve students, professionals, and researchers interested in this field.
Dr. Manuel Blázquez Ochando
Full Professor of Documentation Sciences
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Due to the advancement of AI and its implications for Library and Information Science, the ConocimIA project has been established with the aim of monitoring developments in Artificial Intelligence and their impact on Documentation Sciences, as well as the academic, scientific, technical, and Information Retrieval domains. The project also seeks to foster a space for communication, contact, and debate where professionals, academics, and researchers can share their experiences and ideas regarding AI and its utilization. The disruptive emergence of AI is driving a rapid paradigm shift, whose consequences and possibilities are still under study; while they may prove beneficial, they also present challenges that must be carefully evaluated. The project website is now available at the following link: http://www.conocimia.digital煊