Libby’s secret AI feature surprised me

Book-lending app Libby gets a lot of use on my devices. As a voracious reader and an E Ink tablet enthusiast, I probably read at least a dozen books a month thanks to Libby so when this app has a new feature to check out, I want to jump in and play around with it immediately. Several days ago, I found out via Reddit that there was an experimental new AI feature in the app that is designed to help readers find their next book. I was a little skeptical of this new feature as I’m not a huge fan of AI generally, but I was nevertheless excited to test it out.

However, it looks like this feature is a bit hard to find, as app users won’t find it on any menus during its initial rollout. Instead, you have to enter a magic word into Libby’s search box.

Getting started with #InspireMe

The chatbot is just one keyword away

Getting started with the chatbot is fairly easy, all you have to do is type #InspireMe (with the hashtag) into Libby’s search box at the top of the screen. From there, you’ll be greeted with a space-y background and a prompt box, that includes several basic categories you can choose from, like “nerdy,” “mythic,” or “haunted.” Following that, the chatbot will give you some basic synopses of broad plot tropes which you can then select from to see five options available at your library that fit these broad categories. According to Libby, this new feature prioritizes volumes that can be borrowed immediately, so it’s easier than ever to find your next read.

In addition to performing these broad searches, you can also use Libby’s #InspireMe AI feature to recommend books based on tags you use in the app. I initially used this to look for books based on the eyeball emoji tag, which I created for books I want to circle back to and read later when my TBR is backed up.

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The AI recommendations from that tag worked well enough, but I was surprised when I went back and tried to get recommendations based on another tag I created for books I started but didn’t finish I I found that there was a time limit in between tag-based searches. There doesn’t seem to be anything like this for the standard prompt, which I was able to use several times to generate different results.

Once you’re done with the chatbot, you can close it by selecting the Menu button at the top left. To re-access it, you don’t need to type the keyword again, just press the Libby icon at the center of your menu bar at the bottom on the screen to start again.

Is this AI done right?

I don’t know how much I’ll use this feature, but my first impression is good

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I am loath to say that I like an AI feature in 2025, but I have to say that this one impressed me. It’s unassuming, unobtrusive, and while I don’t know if I personally will ever use it again, I can see it being useful for those who are stuck when it comes to finding their next read.

Though there are plenty of ethical questions when it comes to the environmental impact of AI, Libby’s AI policy says that the feature has been specifically designed to minimize energy impact. In addition, the AI bot does not save any details about you or your device, and only uses your reading history if you specifically ask it to (like in my case with the tag).

It’s worth noting that there has been significant backlash to this feature online, with many users on Reddit decrying the addition of yet another AI feature to an app that didn’t really need it. I can’t say I fully disagree with that sentiment, but I will say that I was surprised at how much I did like using the app. As long as it remains a hidden, optional feature I can’t say I’m too mad about it being an option for those who would benefit from it.