Responsible AI in Digital Humanities Projects

Is it possible to use AI in Digital Humanities (DH) research responsibly, given the many harms it perpetuates? The Responsible AI for Digital Humanities Projects workshop combines critical questioning with hands-on practice to explore whether and potentially how AI should be used for DH research. We will discuss justice-oriented AI initiatives, resources to help reimagine / reclaim / refuse AI, and a survey of ways digital humanists are working with AI. Throughout the workshop, running open source models on your own machine rather than relying on frontier models and other sustainable practices such as scaling (down) to the needs of your project will be emphasized. Workshop mood: scrappy.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Determine whether using AI is appropriate for your Digital Humanities (DH) project.
2. Plan a DH project that considers and minimizes potential harms when using AI methods.
3. Run open source models on your own computer to evaluate suitability and conduct DH research.
4. Discuss AI requirements for your DH project capably with collaborators and on grant applications.

Details: Any preparatory work for the session can be found on its information page. This workshop will not be recorded.

Certificate Eligibility: This workshop is eligible for the Sherman Centre's certificate program. For more information, visit scds.ca/certificate-program. It is also eligible for the Canadian Certificate for Digital Humanities. To learn more, visit ccdhhn.ca or contact scds@mcmaster.ca.