October 12, 2026
AI in Archives: Sages at the Pilecki Institute Conference
On September 30, 2026, the conference “Innovation Labs. AI in Archives. The Archive Fortress” took place in Warsaw, organized by the Pilecki Institute. The event focused on the use of artificial intelligence in archival work. Speakers included representatives of Sages and the Archeology of Photography Foundation.
Can an algorithm tell the story of a photograph?
In their presentation, “Can an Algorithm Tell the Story of a Photograph? AI for Creating Photo Descriptions: Insights from the Archeology of Photography Foundation,” Dr. Weronika Kobylińska, Ariel Drozd, and Kamila Kobus discussed how artificial intelligence can be used to describe archival photographs.
The presentation offered an opportunity to share the Archeology of Photography Foundation’s experience and discuss AI’s potential to make work with visual materials more efficient.
Another important part of the presentation was the project “Automatic Generation of Image Descriptions for People with Visual Impairments,” for which Sages is the beneficiary. The project aims to develop technologies that improve the accessibility of visual content by generating descriptions automatically.
The project is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Funds for Mazovia 2021–2027 programme.
AI, technology, and cultural heritage
The conference provided a space to exchange ideas about the role of new technologies in archival work. The collaboration between Sages and the Archeology of Photography Foundation shows how combining technical expertise with specialist knowledge can support solutions for cultural institutions and people with disabilities.
We are glad to have taken part in the event and to have demonstrated practical applications of AI for digital accessibility.
