The Digital Archive Dilemma: Bridging the Gap Between Preservation and Technological Evolution
As technological advancements rapidly reshape our world, the challenge of preserving digital artifacts for future generations has never been more pressing. From floppy disks to cloud storage, the tools we use to store information have evolved dramatically. Today’s children may find the USB drives of just a decade ago as obsolete as the 16th-century manuscripts we value today. This shift raises essential questions about the future of digital archiving and our ability to retain access to invaluable records of our past.
The Role of Archives: Guardians of History
For centuries, archives have stood as watchful sentinels of history. They safeguard everything from ancient scrolls to modern court records. What we can glean from these records shapes our understanding of the past and informs how we govern our societies today. However, the transition from physical to digital records introduces complexities that challenge our capacity to preserve knowledge. Will future generations have the tools and expertise to access the vast amounts of data generated today? This concern is more than theoretical; it touches the core of how we document our history.
The InterPARES Trust AI (I Trust AI) project aims to tackle these challenges head-on. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), this ambitious five-year multinational research initiative focuses on preserving digital artifacts—ranging from computer games to TikTok videos—for the next century and beyond.
Archiving Challenges in the Age of Massive Data Generation
Led by experts like Dr. Luciana Duranti and Muhammad Abdul-Mageed from the University of British Columbia, the I Trust AI project examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to archive trustworthy public records effectively.
Tracey Lauriault, an associate professor at Carleton University, is a key contributor to this research. She emphasizes the importance of archiving complex digital systems—such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and smart grids—and ensuring the records generated are appraised correctly.
“I Trust AI asks how we can maintain digital records for the next two or three hundred years,” Lauriault says, highlighting the ambitious nature of the project.
The urgency of this challenge becomes evident when considering the digital twins constructed by organizations like the Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS). These hyper-realistic models recreate environments, such as the Canadian Parliament, by incorporating data from a multitude of sources—integrating architectural software, laser scans, and historical photographs.
With “hundreds of different file formats and computer codes” at play, Lauriault notes that AI could be a pivotal tool in preserving these intricate digital constructs.
A Time-Saving Aid for Digital Archivists
The rapid generation of data presents another layer of complexity for digital archivists. For instance, YouTube alone sees over 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, making it virtually impossible to manually catalog and manage this massive influx of content. AI can step in here, streamlining the workload by helping to sort, curate, and even write descriptions for vast arrays of data.
Lauriault articulates a poignant reality: “Archivists used to be able to watch all the films they ingested, but they can’t watch 200,000 videos.” AI promises not only to assist in triaging this ever-growing mountain of data but also to ensure that the output is reliable and accurate.
Trust and Governance in Preserving AI-Generated Archives
As we refine our archives, the emergence of generative AI applications (like ChatGPT) calls into question the integrity of the records themselves. These AI systems can regenerate content from existing data, making it challenging to discern whether new outputs stem from human or AI sources.
Lauriault and her colleagues at Carleton University are working on identifying AI-generated content, which is increasingly crucial. As archives globally are tasked with assessing and ingesting trustworthy records—especially those documenting critical human rights issues or significant historical events—this research assumes added importance.
The Road Ahead: Shaping Future Archives
Looking forward, the I Trust AI project is pivotal in shaping how archives navigate the intricacies of digital preservation. Lauriault asserts, “As we move forward, we will want to look back on the systems we create today.” The potential repercussions of not doing so could be dire. Consider the implications of losing access to vital digital constructs, such as a digital twin of Ottawa, in the aftermath of a natural disaster or due to climate change challenges.
The path forward demands collaboration across various fields—ensuring that archivists, engineers, creators, and researchers work together in designing protocols for assessing and maintaining these complex digital environments. Lauriault encapsulates the urgency: “How do we keep these models live, so that future generations will be able to look back and engage with these artifacts, learn from them, and plan better?”
Conclusion
The digital archiving dilemma reflects broader themes of adaptability and foresight in an ever-evolving technological landscape. As we generate unprecedented amounts of data, the challenge lies not just in preservation but in ensuring future access. The I Trust AI project represents a crucial step toward bridging the divide between today’s rapidly changing digital environment and the historical record we leave for future generations. By harnessing AI and collaborative expertise, we can aspire to ensure that the stories and artifacts of our time endure the test of technological obsolescence.
