Early Thoughts on AI-based Systems and Stewardship of the Evolving Cultural Record
Clifford Lynch
AI-based systems, including generative AI systems that embed foundation models (LLMs), have captured the public attention, and by virtue of this alone require consideration from the perspective of preservation and stewardship. Beyond this, we are seeing many high-impact and large scale systems that embed AI technology deployed on a steady basis. Overall, little consideration has been given to these developments in terms of what they may represent for the digital cultural record; indeed, it’s not at all clear what problems we want to solve or what are likely to be able to solve.
There are perhaps useful parallels and contrasts with the problems involved in thinking about the role of social media platforms as part of the digital cultural record, and I’ll consider some of these. This is very preliminary work on a topic that seems to have received little attention to date. Discussion and pointers to relevant work are very welcome.
This seminar will be held both online & in person. You are welcome to join us either in South Hall or via Zoom.
For online participants
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Clifford Lynch is the director of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) and an adjunct professor at the School of Information. Prior to joining CNI in 1997, Lynch spent eighteen years at the University of California Office of the President, the last ten as director of Library Automation. Lynch is a past president of ASIS&T and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Information Standards Organization.
Contact
If you have questions about this event, please contact Michael Buckland.
