AI & Archives

Introduction:

This 5-day course on AI & Archives explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world of archives. You’ll learn how AI tools can automate tasks, improve data retrieval, and help preserve digital content. Whether you’re an archivist, an information professional, or simply interested in tech, this course will show you how to integrate AI into archival work.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the basics of AI and how it applies to archives.
• Explore AI technologies like machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) in archiving.
• Learn to implement AI solutions for archiving, preserving, and retrieving data.
• Consider the ethical challenges of using AI in archival practices.
• Gain hands-on experience with AI tools designed for archives.

Course Outline:

Day 1: Introduction to AI & Archives

• Overview of AI and machine learning.
• How archives are evolving through digital transformation.
• AI applications in information management and archiving.
• Benefits of AI: efficiency, accuracy, and easier access.
• Case studies of AI success in archival work.

Day 2: AI in Archival Workflows

• Understanding NLP and its role in archives.
• Using AI and machine learning for metadata management.
• AI for automating classification and indexing.
• Improving search and data retrieval with AI.
• Exploring AI tools for digitization and archiving.

Day 3: AI-Powered Preservation and Curation

• How AI supports digital preservation: challenges and opportunities.
• Automating archival appraisal with AI tools.
• AI solutions for long-term storage and data security.
• Using AI models to curate digital archives.
• Case studies on AI in digital preservation.

Day 4: Practical AI Applications in Archives

• Using AI to identify and manage sensitive information.
• AI for digital restoration and repair of archival content.
• Hands-on session: analyzing and organizing archival data with AI tools.
• Enhancing user access and recommendations with AI.
• Ethical issues: AI biases, privacy, and accountability.

Day 5: The Future of AI & Archives

• Trends shaping the future of AI in archival science.
• AI for cross-disciplinary research and collaboration.
• Collaborative AI tools for crowd-sourced archival projects.
• How to integrate AI into your current archival system.
• Final workshop: planning and executing an AI-based archival project.