Will Genealogists and Historians come to love AI?

I recently wrote a thread on Bsky concerning my thoughts on AI after the release of the new photo tool by MyHeritage. I have decided to expand those thoughts into a blog post.

Artificial Intelligence is a transformative tool with vast potential, but like any tool, its use depends on the intention and awareness of its users. As a historian and genealogist, I’ve recently experimented with AI to create a documentary-style video about actress Sarah Maria Adcock. This project demonstrated the power of AI in uncovering and presenting history in engaging ways. Yet, it also sparked reflections on AI’s broader implications, from environmental concerns to ethical dilemmas.

Environmental Cost and Mitigation Efforts

AI systems require immense computational power, leading to significant energy consumption and water use, particularly in cooling the servers that support these technologies. This environmental toll has sparked criticism, with many questioning whether the benefits of AI justify its ecological footprint.

Tech companies, however, are stepping up to address these challenges:

• Renewable Energy Initiatives: Firms like Google and Microsoft are powering their data centers with renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon emissions.
• Efficient AI Models: There is a growing focus on creating smaller, less resource-intensive AI models that deliver comparable performance.
• Water-Reduction Goals: Companies are pledging to make AI operations less water-intensive by 2030, developing innovative cooling solutions to minimize waste.

While these measures are promising, they require global accountability and transparency to ensure AI evolves as a sustainable tool (More info below).

The Ethics of AI in Historical Contexts

AI opens new doors for genealogists and historians, allowing us to animate, recreate, and visualize history like never before. Yet, this raises ethical questions about how we use these capabilities:

• Labeling AI-Created Media: It’s essential to clearly identify AI-generated content to maintain trust and avoid misleading viewers. When recreating known histories, transparency is paramount.
• Respecting Personal Images: Tools like MyHeritage’s LiveMemory can animate photos of loved ones, offering comfort to some but discomfort to others. Before using such tools, especially in public forums, we must consider whether all stakeholders are comfortable with the result.
• Authenticity vs. Engagement: Historical dramas, like Wolf Hall or Gentleman Jack, take liberties to engage viewers, blending fiction with historical truths. Similarly, AI can reimagine history to make it accessible, but we must tread carefully to avoid creating “fake history” that distorts facts. It is important to recognise that our favourite historical novels and dramas have to create fictional scenes based on known facts, perhaps we should be asking if this is okay for Oliver Cromwell, why not our own ancestors?

AI as a Tool for Connection and Comfort

Despite its challenges, AI offers unique opportunities for connection. For historians and genealogists, it can:

• Bring Stories to Life: AI animations and recreations engage audiences who might not typically explore history or genealogy. They make stories more accessible and relatable.
• Support Diverse Needs: For individuals with conditions like aphantasia, which makes visualizing family stories difficult, AI provides a powerful assistive tool. My sister has this condition and is unable to visualise her father’s face – and with no video footage of him, can AI assist with her condition?
• Offer Emotional Comfort: Animating a photo of a departed loved one can offer solace, as I personally experienced when I used AI to animate an image of my late dad.

Balancing Progress and Responsibility

The rapid evolution of AI challenges us to find a balance between innovation and responsibility. As the technology improves, particularly in media generation, the risks of misuse grow. For example, current limitations in AI-rendered visuals (such as awkward hands, six fingers, and weird popping eyes!) may soon vanish, making it harder to distinguish real from fake. In the hands of malicious actors, this could have serious consequences.

The key is to approach AI with a mindset of accountability:

1. Encourage Open Discussions: As a community, we must acknowledge AI’s presence and engage in honest dialogues about its use.
2. Promote Ethical Practices: Historians, genealogists, and content creators should adopt guidelines for AI usage, ensuring transparency and respect for historical integrity.
3. Leverage AI Responsibly: By using AI thoughtfully, we can enhance storytelling without compromising authenticity or ethics.

Conclusion

AI is here to stay, and its potential to enrich our understanding of history and genealogy is immense. However, as we embrace this tool, we must do so with care, balancing its benefits against its ethical and environmental costs. Whether animating the past or engaging new audiences, our goal should always be to preserve the essence of history while respecting the people and stories it represents.

For a deeper dive into this discussion, check out my AI documentary on Sarah Maria Adcock. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can collectively navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI. Let’s shape the future of AI in history responsibly!

By Mish J Holman (C) 2024. Do not reuse without permission.

Action taken by companies to mitigate environmental impact of AI:

Google’s Initiatives: Google is focusing on making its AI systems more energy-efficient by using advanced Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) that reduce the energy needed for AI training by up to 100 times. Additionally, its data centres are 1.8 times more energy-efficient than the industry average. The company has also prioritized clean energy, achieving 90% carbon-free energy in several regions and maintaining a global average of 64%. Moreover, Google is addressing water usage by replenishing over 1 billion gallons annually and investing in water recycling technologies.

IBM’s Sustainability Efforts: IBM is optimizing its data centres operations through energy-efficient designs and water recycling systems. The company is developing underground reservoirs for cooling and exploring off-grid capabilities for certain facilities. IBM is also leveraging AI for “carbon accounting” to monitor and reduce emissions effectively. This allows them to make informed decisions to minimize their ecological footprint.