Fri Sep 20 07:05:54 UTC 2024: ## AI Takes the Reins: Nebraska Archivist Uses ChatGPT to Curate Exhibit

**Lincoln, Nebraska** – Traci Robison, an outreach archivist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has taken a groundbreaking approach to curating her latest exhibit. For the fall 2024 showcase on the history of Nebraska’s unicameral legislature, Robison experimented with artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, to assist in the curation process.

The result is a unique, nested exhibit titled “Artificial Archivist: ChatGPT as Curator” and “The Birth of Nebraska’s Unicameral Legislature: A Singular Solution for Representative Government,” currently on display in the lower level of Love Library South.

This innovative exhibit explores the potential and pitfalls of using AI in archival work. Robison explains that she wanted to demonstrate the process and its limitations, encouraging visitors to critically engage with the technology. “I wanted to surface questions around using AI and evaluating its output,” she says. “I think archivists and librarians have a role to play in helping users navigate these challenges.”

While Robison found ChatGPT helpful in refining ideas and focusing her efforts, she also encountered its shortcomings. The AI failed to provide proper citations and even fabricated sources, necessitating extra research. “Consulting with a librarian to find relevant sources is definitely a better approach,” she notes.

To further highlight AI’s limitations, Robison intentionally included a mistake ChatGPT made in the exhibit, displaying it in strikethrough text. This serves as a reminder to always verify information, even when working with AI.

The exhibit, which includes both AI-generated content and Robison’s own research, invites visitors to engage with the process. Visitors can leave comments and questions about ChatGPT’s performance, contributing to the ongoing discussion surrounding AI in archival work.

Robison believes that the exhibit will spark valuable dialogue and critical thinking about the role of AI in research and curation. “As soon as the exhibit was installed, visitors began sharing their thoughts and responding to the questions it poses,” she says. “I hope that as classes return this fall, more folks will visit the exhibit to add their own ideas and critiques.”

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