The International Council on Archives (ICA) is pleased to present the AI and Archival Practice On-Line Tutorials, a new educational resource developed through the 2024 ICA PCOM-funded project on Archives and AI, first introduced during an open virtual session hosted in March.
This tutorial series explores the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and archival work. While the field continues to advance at great speed, the project team has aimed to provide a timely overview of current tools, use cases, and challenges, along with curated references to deepen understanding.
Explore the Tutorials
Each tutorial is available directly on the resource page, accompanied by a downloadable resource sheet summarising the video content and listing additional resources. Topics range from digital preservation and archival description to ethics, access, and outreach.
Tutorials in the Series
1. AI and Appraisal and Selection
Features a demonstration by Jason Franks (RecordPoint) of AI tools used in records appraisal and categorisation, including chatbot applications for generating summaries and identifying limitations.
2. AI and Digital Preservation
Includes expert interviews with Yaso Arumugam, Dr Hamad Al Mutairi, and Dr Babak Hamidzadeh, discussing AI in government record creation, sustainability, and the role of ‘paradata’.
3. AI to Support Research and Public Access
Showcases initiatives by Jiyoung Park (National Archives of Korea) and the SIMARA project (Archives Nationales de France), including intelligent search systems, handwriting recognition, and virtual reading rooms.
4. AI and Archival Description
Adrian Cunningham discusses international standards, challenges in describing digital collections, and how AI is reshaping descriptive practices.
5. AI and Photographic Archives
John Balean (TopFoto) presents the use of DataSheep, an AI-powered tool that creates metadata from handwritten captions with the help of ChatGPT APIs.
6. AI, Ethics and Human Rights
Viridiana García Marignón (UNESCO) and Ernesto Ibarra Sanchez (Mexican Academy of Cybersecurity and Digital Law) address critical issues including cultural bias, indigenous rights, and ethical AI frameworks.
7. Using AI to Promote the Archives
Features a conversation with Tim Sears (Groq) on how AI tools and infrastructure can enhance visibility and engagement with archival collections.
Comprehensive Resource List
A complete list of print and online resources is also available on the resource page. This reference list is divided into three sections:
- Topics covered by the eight tutorials
- Other areas where AI impacts archival practice
- General readings on AI and archives
