The far-reaching influence of AI cannot be denied. Its impact extends across industries one after another, and digital audiovisual archiving is no exception.
By automating tasks, improving data analysis, and increasing accessibility, AI generates new opportunities to preserve and use valuable archive content. This technological advancement not only improves efficiency, but also opens the door to new revenue streams and monetization opportunities.
However, it is essential to keep in mind that AI can only work after the content has been digitized, making the first step of converting physical media such as tapes, discs or films into files essential digital. Additionally, while AI can streamline processes and discover insights, it is important to note that this technical revolution does not replace human expertise.
A request for audiovisual archives
In recent years, several factors have contributed to the sudden increase in demand for audiovisual archives, including the pandemic. Unable to travel due to restrictions and faced with growing demand for content available 24/7 on new platforms, production teams were forced to find innovative ways to deliver new and exciting content. To achieve this, filmmakers and broadcasters have turned to archived content that can be reused.
This trend has since continued, with popular examples including Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos And Beckham. In such cases, digital preservation not only prevents stories from being lost to time, but also breathes new life into them, making them accessible to new generations who may be discovering these classics for the first time.
Today’s owners of audiovisual archives face a critical threat: the obsolescence of technology, format and knowledge. Existing equipment is becoming increasingly scarce and the skills needed to maintain and migrate these formats are diminishing. This poses a significant risk of content loss for media organizations as they lack the time to protect their content libraries.
The role of AI
AI is revolutionizing content and metadata management in several ways. It enables end users to retrieve archival assets through AI visual search, facilitating a wide range of applications, from providing still images to social media teams to providing historical photographs for production design. AI also helps monetize archival media assets for use in marketing campaigns.
Beyond search and discovery, AI-powered automation features like picture-in-picture recognition, transcription, translation, and file trimming streamline the content curation process . However, human oversight remains crucial, as limitations of AI, such as potential inaccuracies in facial recognition and automatic tagging, can impact the overall effectiveness of these tools.
AI is reshaping the archiving industry, requiring a shift in skills. While AI can automate tasks like data entry and content enrichment, it cannot entirely replace the need for human expertise. AI’s inability to understand context and its literal interpretation of information can limit its effectiveness. That’s why human intervention remains crucial for tasks requiring nuanced understanding, such as complex data analysis, decision-making, and creative problem solving.
Additionally, as experienced engineers and maintenance technicians retire, a skills gap will emerge. This skills shortage will be particularly evident in the manual processes required to maintain and repair archival materials. To address this, it is crucial to invest in training the next generation of archivists.
The verdict
AI offers immense potential for the archiving sector. But ultimately, without human intervention, AI can have undesirable consequences. The “human in the loop” design approach emphasizes the importance of human monitoring and control in AI processes. Supervision is essential: AI cannot replace the knowledge and expertise of humans. Archivists and content creators will continue to play a vital role in the process of preserving, interpreting and contextualizing historical content.
Heidi Shakespeare is CEO of Memnon.
