Investigating the Intersections of Ethics and Artificial Intelligence in the Collections as Data Position Papers

ABSTRACT A paradigm shift is currently underway with the emergence of the Collections as Data movement, which advocates the creation and dissemination of cultural heritage collections that are amenable to large‐scale computation to empower both collection managers and users. Although this discourse is beginning to gain some traction in the literature, critical evidence‐based assessments of the opportunities and risks of this process are underexplored. This paper presents the results of a content analysis of the official position statements (n = 83) produced in the Collections as Data forums and written by international professionals working with digital collections. Although preliminary, the analysis presented and discussed here sheds light on the initial reception of the idea of Collections as Data and its articulation in practice. The study represents the first systematic attempt to explore the complexities of the intersection of ethics and artificial intelligence in the context of cultural heritage, aiming at providing a valuable precedent for further elaboration and discussion.