Anna Foka is a the Director of the Centre for Digital Humanities at Uppsala University, and Associate Professor in Digital Humanities. Anna’s research outputs to-date focus on digital cultural heritage, heritage data and information science more generally, its classification, representation and supporting methods, tools, and supporting infrastructures.

Abstract: This talk examines the challenges and opportunities that arise with the implementation of Artificial Intelligence methods and tools when implemented within Swedish heritage institutions. Previous research has shown that materiality, strategic planning, and social inclusion were key goals in cultural heritage management, and that technology does not remain neutral in the process of knowledge production. This preliminary study nuances the possibilities and challenges that arise for implementation within heritage institutions. The focus is on three Swedish heritage institutions, each of them representing a different organizational framework, while sharing a similar approach concerning artificial intelligence tools and methods. First, I discuss a state-of-the-art inquiry on heritage institutions and artificial intelligence methods and tools. I then proceed with a description of present case-studies. Via 1) semi-structured interviews with heritage professionals, 2) heritage institution website communication, and 3) internal digitization protocols and digitalization strategies, I provide a holistic analysis of both professional and organisational processes concerning the implementation of AI methods and tools. Ultimately, this study shows that AI implementation highlights both opportunities as well uneven power dynamics between professional perspectives, institutional goals and technological innovation.