Where Memory Meets Machine: A Conference on AI and Cultural Stewardship

In an age when technology reshapes how we understand and preserve the past, a gathering of minds converges in Abu Dhabi to contemplate the future of cultural memory. On Wednesday, 11 November 2026, the National Library and Archives, in partnership with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, hosts an International Conference on the Application of Large Language Models, an event that speaks to the profound intersection of artificial intelligence and archival practice.

The conference explores a compelling question at the heart of contemporary custodianship: how do we harness the power of advanced language models to deepen our stewardship of cultural heritage? Across sessions and dialogue, speakers and participants examine the role these technologies play in advancing archival work itself, transforming how collections are organized, understood and made accessible to future generations.

At its centre lies a conversation about preservation in the digital age. As cultural institutions worldwide grapple with exponential growth in both physical and digital records, artificial intelligence offers new pathways for safeguarding the material and memory of nations. The conference turns attention to how these tools might enhance public access to historical records, democratizing knowledge and inviting broader engagement with the narratives that shape our identity.

Yet the gathering ventures beyond the merely technical. It contemplates the philosophical dimensions of this transformation: what does it mean for cultural memory when machines participate in its ordering and interpretation? How do we ensure that technology serves not merely efficiency, but deeper understanding? These are the questions that animate the dialogue, as specialists from multiple disciplines and geographies convene to shape the conversation about heritage, innovation and responsibility.

The conference takes place at the National Library and Archives headquarters in Abu Dhabi.