Artificial Intelligence As a Risk and Opportunity for the Authenticity of Archives

The use of AI techniques and tools is increasingly growing in different sectors of our society. This development rises many opportunities and challenges related to the introduction of AI across disciplines. Archival sciences and the cultural heritage sector are areas where further exploration of these techniques is required as existing solutions in the market do not address all known problems. Thus, we will explore the following research question:

How can AI be used wisely when it comes to archives and cultural heritage?

In this project a transdisciplinary research team, combining knowledge and expertise from strong research environments, with ongoing collaborations within several interesting international networks, will explore further how some of the problems of archival sciences can be analyzed and addressed using AI.

AI based solutions consist of promising techniques, that could provide new insights related to the understanding and learning of archival science, but there are also many risks. The AI solutions available for this sector, are not transparent. The question of how we can understand what perspectives and views are brought by the AI becomes obvious when starting to think about it. This project aims towards meaningful AI development for cultural heritage and making AI more transparent. An archival AI perspective could serve institutional needs, and benefit society at large by improving access, representation, and credibility. Humanities­based AI development could provide innovative insights, needed in society.