JOB REPORT / 25-4011 · 13 TASKS
Archivists.
Can AI do the work of Archivists?
Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.
YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS
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How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?
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The mark shows what’s typical for this job.
The parts of your job AI can already do most of:
- Coordinate educational and public outreach programs
- Specialize in an area of history or technology, researching…
- Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access…
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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Archivists work. It covers the 13 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.
WHAT WE LOOKED AT
Your job, task by task.
13/ 1313 of 13 tasks reviewed
We went through all 13 core tasks in this job, one at a time.
Task by task, from the work Archivists actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.
- TASK 01
Coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes.
AI DOESDrafts announcements, schedules, and outreach content
YOU DOBuild community relationships and adapt plans to real people's needs
- TASK 02
Specialize in an area of history or technology, researching topics or items relevant to collections to determine what should be retained or acquired.
AI DOESSearches literature, summarizes historical context, and flags potentially relevant items across large databases
YOU DOApply specialized expertise and institutional mission to judge what truly deserves a place in the collection
- TASK 03
Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials.
AI DOESDrafts policy templates, summarizes access laws, and flags common guidelines used by other archives
YOU DOWeigh community values, legal risk, and institutional priorities when deciding the final rules
- TASK 04SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Preserve records, documents, and objects, copying records to film, videotape, audiotape, disk, or computer formats as necessary.
AI DOESDigitizes and converts records to multiple formats automatically
YOU DODecide what's worth preserving forever
About this analysis
75% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
- TASK 05
Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.
AI DOESSuggests metadata tags, draft catalog entries, and flags similar items in a collection
YOU DOLead your team, make judgment calls on rare items, and handle hands-on collection work
- TASK 06
Locate new materials and direct their acquisition and display.
AI DOESSearches databases, flags relevant items, and summarizes material descriptions
YOU DOWeigh cultural significance and build relationships with donors and sources
- TASK 07SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.
AI DOESGenerates descriptions and metadata from document scans
YOU DOVerify context and historical significance
About this analysis
61% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
- TASK 08
Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials.
AI DOESSearches databases, compares handwriting samples, checks historical facts, and flags inconsistencies in document metadata
YOU DOPhysically examine paper, ink, and wear patterns — and make the final call on authenticity
- TASK 09SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials.
AI DOESScans documents and suggests classification categories
YOU DODecide what researchers actually need
About this analysis
54% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
- TASK 10SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Select and edit documents for publication and display, applying knowledge of subject, literary expression, and presentation techniques.
AI DOESSorts, formats, and suggests edits for documents
YOU DOChoose what resonates and fits your vision
About this analysis
52% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
- TASK 11SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Create and maintain accessible, retrievable computer archives and databases, incorporating current advances in electronic information storage technology.
AI DOESOrganizes files and suggests storage structures
YOU DODesign systems users actually need
About this analysis
47% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
- TASK 12SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Research and record the origins and historical significance of archival materials.
AI DOESScans documents and suggests historical connections
YOU DOJudge significance and craft the story
About this analysis
37% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
- TASK 13SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.
AI DOESSearches databases and suggests relevant materials
YOU DOGuide users to what they actually need
About this analysis
30% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
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