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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/sa.2026.06.002

A Conceptual Framework for AI-mediated Information Practices

Sofia Stamou

Department of Archives, Library Science and Museology, Ionian University, Ioannou Theotoki 72, Corfu 49100, Greece.

*Corresponding author: Sofia Stamou

Published: June 30, 2026

Abstract

The rapid adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how individuals seek, evaluate, interpret, and produce information, creating new demands on established literacy frameworks. This article examines the conceptual relationship among information literacy, AI literacy, and the emerging concept of prompt literacy. Through a conceptual synthesis of the relevant literature, it develops a framework that distinguishes the primary orientations, contributory relationships, and shared competencies of the three domains. The analysis argues that prompt literacy should not be understood as a successor to, or replacement for, information or AI literacy, nor as a synonym for prompt engineering. Rather, its distinctiveness is configurational: it concerns the coordinated mobilization of information- and AI-related competencies within iterative human–AI interaction. The framework identifies critical evaluation, verification, ethical and responsible use, and human agency as cross-cutting dimensions of AI-mediated information practice. Implications for libraries and information professionals are discussed, particularly in relation to user education, information evaluation, and responsible engagement with generative AI. As a conceptual framework, the model is not empirically validated; rather, it provides a basis for future research, assessment, and educational development concerning prompt literacy and its relationship to established literacy domains.

Keyword

Information literacy; prompt literacy; generative AI; AI literacy; conceptual framework

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Copyright

© 2026 by the author(s).
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not modified or adapted.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

How to cite this paper

A Conceptual Framework for AI-mediated Information Practices

How to cite this paper: Sofia Stamou. (2026) A Conceptual Framework for AI-mediated Information Practices. Scientific Access, 2(2), 84-94.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/sa.2026.06.002