Humanist Discussion Group

Humanist Archives: May 20, 2026, 10:32 a.m. Humanist 40.11 - events: Artificial Intelligence as an Archival Science (Vienna); ACH virtual conference

				
              Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 40, No. 11.
        Department of Digital Humanities, University of Cologne
                      Hosted by DH-Cologne
                       www.dhhumanist.org
                Submit to: humanist@dhhumanist.org


    [1]    From: Tara L Andrews <tara.andrews@univie.ac.at>
           Subject: Data Science Distinguished Lecture (University of Vienna): David Smith, Northeastern University (42)

    [2]    From: Stefano Morello <smorello@gc.cuny.edu>
           Subject: ACH 2026 Program Now Available (101)


--[1]------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Date: 2026-05-20 08:28:27+00:00
        From: Tara L Andrews <tara.andrews@univie.ac.at>
        Subject: Data Science Distinguished Lecture (University of Vienna): David Smith, Northeastern University

The research network Data Science @ Uni Vienna warmly invites you to attend the
Data Science Distinguished Lecture for Summer Semester 2026:

  Artificial Intelligence as an Archival Science
  1. June 2026, 5:00pm CET
  Registration: https://booking.univie.ac.at/dsdl2026/

which will be given by Prof. David Smith of Northeastern University. David Smith
is an Associate Professor in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at
Northeastern University in Boston. His interdisciplinary work focuses on natural
language processing and computational linguistics, particularly through
applications in the humanities and social sciences. He is currently a Visiting
Professor at the Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies.

Abstract:
As suggested by Alison Gopnik and others (e.g., Farrell et al., 2025), large
language models and similar AI artifacts are "cultural technologies". Like
language and writing—and also bureaucracies, democracies, and markets—AI
transforms our relationship to memory and our interactions with each other. More
particularly, state-of-the-art models are trained on archives collected from the
digitized human record. Model trainers are recreating, intentionally or not,
processes for selection, categorization, and source criticism that resemble some
archival practices. After surveying some of the consequences of this archival
view of AI, this talk will present work from our research group that traces the
effects of training data composition on training dynamics and of mixtures of
genres on high-level LLM capabilities. I will also discuss the ways in which
analyzing large-scale patterns in the human record can help us build better
models.

Attendance may be in person or online. A link will be circulated a few days
before the event to online attendees, and refreshments will be available after
the lecture for in-person attendees. Please indicate your mode of attendance
during registration.

With best wishes,
Tara Andrews

--
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Tara L Andrews
Digital Humanities
Institut für Geschichte, Universität Wien
Universitätsring 1, A-1010 Wien

--[2]------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Date: 2026-05-20 00:25:08+00:00
        From: Stefano Morello <smorello@gc.cuny.edu>
        Subject: ACH 2026 Program Now Available

Dear all,

Registration is now open for the Association for Computers and the 
Humanities annual virtual conference, 
<https://members.ach.org/civicrm/event/info/?id=37&reset=1>
which will take place from June 24 to 26, 2026. ACH 2026.

Registration is open through June 17
<https://members.ach.org/civicrm/event/info/?id=37&reset=1>


About the Program

We are also excited to share that the full conference
program <https://ach2026.ach.org/en/schedule/> is now available. ACH 2026 is
focused on themes of transnationalism and solidarity, with particular attention
to the Americas. The program includes over 70 presentations that reflect the
breadth of digital humanities research and teaching methods across the ACH
community.

We are especially honored to welcome our keynote
speakers <https://ach2026.ach.org/en/keynote/>, Dr. Laura Gonzales and Dr. Maria
José Afanador-Llach.


Bursaries

Please note that the deadline for applying for a bursary has been extended to
May 29th. Eligible applicants can submit for a Bursary through our
form<https://forms.gle/vvy6Fv7dPExUHvw87>.


Regional Hubs

This year’s regional hubs will offer opportunities for participants to gather
locally and watch conference sessions together, and extend the conversation
beyond the panels. Full descriptions and locations of the regional hubs are
available on our website<https://ach2026.ach.org/en/hubs/>.


Pre-Conference Workshops

Pre-conference workshops on June 22-23 will take place on digital pedagogy and
preservation. Register<https://ach2026.ach.org/en/workshops/> for the pre-
conference workshops by May 22nd to secure a priority spot.


We hope you will join us for ACH 2026 and help circulate this announcement!

-----

Queridos colegas,


Ya está abierta la
inscripción <https://members.ach.org/civicrm/event/info/?id=37&reset=1> para la
conferencia virtual anual de la Asociación para las Computadoras y las
Humanidades que tendrá lugar del 24 al 25 de junio. La inscripción para ACH
2026<https://members.ach.org/civicrm/event/info/?id=37&reset=1> permanecerá
abierta hasta el 17 de junio.


Sobre el programa

También, nos emociona compartir que el programa
completo <https://ach2026.ach.org/en/schedule/> de la conferencia ya está
disponible. ACH 2026 enfatiza los temas del transnacionalismo y la solidaridad
particularmente en las Américas. El programa incluye 70 presentaciones que
reflejan la extensión de la investigación y los métodos de enseñanza dentro de
las humanidades digitales en la comunidad de la ACH.

Estamos especialmente complacidos de anunciar como ponentes
magistrales<https://ach2026.ach.org/es/ponentes-magistrales/> a las doctoras
Laura Gonzales y Maria José Afanador-Llach.


Becas

Aviso: la fecha límite para solicitar una beca de registro ha sido extendida
hasta el 29 de mayo. Los solicitantes elegibles pueden enviar su solicitud de
beca a través de nuestro formulario<https://forms.gle/vvy6Fv7dPExUHvw87>.

Grupos regionales

Este año los grupos regionales ofrecerán oportunidades locales para reunirse y
ver las sesiones en compañía con el propósito de extender nuestras discusiones
más allá de los paneles. Las descripciones y ubicaciones de cada grupo regional
están disponibles en nuestro sitio web<https://ach2026.ach.org/es/groupos/>.

Talleres

Los talleres pre-conferencia<https://ach2026.ach.org/en/workshops/> pautados
para el 22-23 de junio cubrirán la preservación y pedagogía digital y serán
dictados solo en inglés. El 22 de mayo es la fecha límite de registro para
asegurar un espacio de prioridad.

¡Esperamos que puedan asistir a ACH 2026 y ayudarnos a promover este anuncio!

--
Stefano Morello, Ph.D. 
<http://stefanomorello.com/>


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