Applications for AI Abound
Applications for the use of artificial intelligence abound from high-end, back-of-house computing to casual, fun hand-held museum “docent.” Each has a specific intent and solves unique problems for different users. Given the task to consider using AI for a project, I would propose two possibilities and users.
E-PCAA — Electronic Post-Custodial Archive Assistant
Summary: Jane, a special collection archivist, curator, and director, can identify and anticipate holdings in need of post-custodial archiving by comparing millions of records, news items, and data in order to help make those materials available around the globe.
Post-custodial arrangements are being made around the world between special collections libraries and/or museums with individuals, organizations, and governments to digitize materials while leaving the originals in the hands of their owners. The digitized materials then are available online for researchers anywhere without having removed the original documents from their country. Many of these materials are in danger of decay, loss, or other damage and many of the organizations themselves face challenges. Identifying agencies that have materials in need of protecting by digitizing takes a lot of factors into consideration and requires a lot of time. With the help of artificial intelligence, the task of identifying and evaluating organizations and their holdings could be automated, learning and adjusting as selections are made and work is completed. The app would be able to find and understand a comprehensive amount of information, saving an immense amount of staff time. AI scanning information about organizations, activities of governments, and current events, would be able to recognize potential upcoming threats to materials, such as emerging civil strife or potential environmental threats such as earthquakes, in time for agencies to work together in advance of any loss or damage. Archivists could then focus their time and money going to various countries to perform the digitization and to educate repository staff.
Beyond the identification of holdings in need of attention, AI could also be used to continue to monitor the existing relationships with organizations and their collections. Subsequently, the collection of the digitized materials could then be analyzed by AI, based on some of the same data analysis of organizations, governments, and current events, and further identify potential intersections between the materials and researchers and even new types of users. This type of connections-making is already being tested in image-reading software that has found links between artist works that were never imagined previously. This next step would then help archival staff develop presentations, exhibitions, and/or dissemination methods.
The best form for this valuable tool would be worth investigating with post-custodial archivists and special collection directors.
E-Travel Buddy — Sites and Events Assistant
Unlike the Post-custodial archive assistant, the Sites and Event tracker would be something that would be of value to the general public.
Summary: Jane, business and personal traveler, can be informed of sites/events of interest near/along her route in advance or along the way by referencing comprehensive real-time data.
While planning or during a trip, this application could identify sites and events of interest to the traveler that would mesh with her itinerary. This would be able to anticipate and update along a route, providing personalized recommendations such as a current history museum exhibition, nearby architecture site, theatre show, sporting event, or music concert depending, and how the route could be altered geographically as well as temporally to minimize disruption and maximize opportunities. The value would be in the ability of the application to use AI to manage a vast wealth of information and continue to update conditions and adapt to the user, evaluating much more comprehensively and making appropriate recommendations.
Different from Google Maps that statically identifies basic information about nearby entities; other travel apps, like Lola, that act as a travel agent to book flights, hotel and transportation; or ones like Jorny that also include sites and restaurant reservations, this would be robust but focus on providing access and recommendations for places of interest for travelers without the other booking features. This would meet the user’s desire to locate interesting sites or events, coordinate efficiently to manage time, convenience, and cost by using the most current information about travel conditions (air or car) such as proximity, road closures, delays; and venue information like hours, costs, closings, etc.
Either of these two potential applications of AI have benefits to the users by augmenting human abilities with the power of cognitive computing power.
