The Efficiency of Artificial Intelligence Techniques in Classifying Information Sources According to the Dewey Decimal System: An Evaluation Study

Abstract

The research aims to evaluate the efficiency of artificial intelligence techniques in classifying information sources according to the Dewey Decimal System, by selecting a sample of these techniques, namely the (Copilot) technique, whose efficiency in this field will be evaluated by selecting main, sub-topics, and auxiliary topics and their corresponding classification numbers and subject headings from the main and auxiliary tables of the Dewey system, based on its philosophy of dividing human knowledge into ten main sections, and then testing the efficiency of the (Copilot) technique in classifying information sources by using standard measures of the results obtained from the topics tested in each main section, and calculating the exact and general conformity and cases of non-conformity of the subject headings and classification numbers of the Dewey Decimal System in all test cases in order to determine the efficiency of the (Copilot) technique and evaluate it in a precise scientific manner. The study used the descriptive approach with the adoption of the case study and analysis methods from this approach. The study reached a set of results, the most prominent of which are: 1) The overall efficiency rate of the (Copilot) technology reached (89%) after completing the measurement of general and accurate conformity to classify information sources according to the Dewey system in all its main and sub-sections, with a vast superiority of the accurate conformity rate, which reached (79%), followed by general conformity, which reached (10%), 2) Artificial intelligence has a promising future in helping specialists in completing classification processes if they use it properly. 3) The (Copilot) technology did not use the Dewey Decimal System during the test and recommends referring to it and using it to obtain more accurate classification numbers due to the copyright and intellectual property rights of the Dewey Decimal System. Information sources were classified using the (Copilot) technology during the test by referring to global databases and their indexes that provide classification numbers similar to the topics that were queried during the test. The study recommends encouraging specialists working in various information institutions to use artificial intelligence technologies to help complete classification processes, as they save time, effort and cost, in addition to the need for continuous follow-up and improvement by its developers.