SC07
NEW Can/Should AI Do That? Heritage Digitization Use Cases for AI
Instructors: Julie McVey, National Geographic Society, and Doug Peterson, Digital Transitions
Level: Introductory
Duration: 2 hours
Course Time: 10:15 – 12:15
Benefits
This course enables the attendee to:
- Become knowledgeable about basic ML/AI tools and techniques commonly used in a heritage context.
- Articulate the goals of a proposed AI/ML project and develop Request for Proposals.
- Evaluate vendors and design pilots for projects.
- Create an evaluation framework that incorporates practical and ethical considerations for using AI/ML to enhance digitized collections.
Course Description
It is crucial to understand the capabilities and limits of AI, and to establish a robust framework for evaluating its use in cultural heritage. This course starts with an introduction to AI within a heritage context, followed by three case studies that augmented collections metadata using entity extraction, context-specific geomapping, image segmentation, caption generation, and caption refinement using Large Language Models. We then discuss developing frameworks for evaluating AI including who should be involved, developing research questions and project goals, the role of pilot projects, and the criteria by which success should be measured. This centers ethics and potential bias alongside efficiency and ROI. And yes, AI helped write this description.
Intended Audience: Digitization program managers, collection managers, and other professionals tasked with digitization and metadata project management. No prerequisite knowledge is necessary.
Julie McVey is senior manager of Digital Collections for the National Geographic Society’s Special Collections. She oversees the Special Collections digital preservation program and provides expertise in digital curation, metadata standards, technology innovations, and collections accessibility and outreach. She holds an MA in History and an MLIS, both from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Doug Peterson is co-owner and head of R+D and product management at Digital Transitions. He holds a BS in Commercial Photography from Ohio University. He is the lead author of a series of technical guidelines and recommendations for cultural heritage digitization, including the Phase One Color Reproduction Guide, Imaging for the Future: Digitization Program Planning, and the DT Digitization Guides for Reflective and Transmissive Workflows. He oversees the DT Digitization Certification training series and has presented multiple short courses at previous Archiving conferences. Peterson is a member of ISO TC 42, which works on digitization standards.
Category
2. Short Courses
Track
Data Science: Exploring Technology
When
4/9/2024 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Eastern Daylight Time