Applying AI to Oral History: Opportunities, Challenges, and What Comes Next
GroupSpot B, 2nd floor, John Peace Library
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how we record, process, and share human stories. In this talk, Steven Sielaff will demonstrate how tools like MacWhisper, BUTANE, and BoxAI are reshaping transcription, textual analysis, and summarization in oral history practice. He’ll also explore the ethical and legal concerns—bias, data security, authorship, and the role of human expertise—that come with AI adoption.
Whether you’re curious about new research tools, cautious about their risks, or just eager to see what’s possible, this session offers a practical and thought-provoking look at oral history in the age of AI.
Time: 5-6 p.m. (Meet and Greet); 6 p.m. (Presentation)
Co-sponsored lecture between UT San Antonio Libraries and Museums and the History Department.
Speaker: Steven Sielaff, Clinical Associate Professor of Oral History and Senior Editor & Collections Manager, Baylor University Institute for Oral History