Dear Colleagues,
I am an Associate Professor at the School of Information, University of South Florida (USF), conducting a research study on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is affecting archivists' work practices and job quality. This study has been approved by the USF Institutional Review Board (IRB #STUDY009492).
The goal of this study is to understand how AI is influencing archivists' work today and how its impact may evolve over the next decade. I will explore:
- Which traditional tasks have been replaced or transformed
- What new tasks have emerged
- The knowledge and skills needed to adapt
- How AI affects compensation, job security, workload, work intensity and other aspects of job quality
The findings will help policymakers, employers, professional associations, and educators support archivists in navigating the challenges posed by AI technologies.
If you are a practicing archivist who has used AI in your work, I invite you to participate in a one-hour online interview. If interested, please email me at jinfang@usf.edu to schedule an interview.
Here is a brief explanation of AI: AI encompasses technologies such as generative AI, speech and audio processing, computer vision, natural language processing, and predictive analytics. These tools may appear as standalone applications-such as virtual assistants (e.g., Siri, Alexa), chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT), or video generation tools (e.g., Sora)-or be integrated into existing systems like Microsoft 365 Copilot, Integrated Library Systems, eDiscovery platforms, cloud computing services, or digital preservation tools. Some AI solutions are designed specifically for archivists (e.g., ePADD), while others are general-purpose tools adapted for archival work (e.g., ChatGPT). Common applications of AI in archives include appraisal and selection, handwritten text transcription, translation, metadata generation, sensitive information detection, data visualization, and restoration of damaged images. AI also supports administrative tasks such as summarizing documents, drafting emails, and creating presentations.
Thank you for considering this invitation. Your insights will be invaluable to this research.
Best regards,
Jinfang Niu, PhD
Associate professor
School of Information, University of South Florida
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Jinfang Niu
Associate professor
University of South Florida
Tampa FL
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