Swedish Cultural Heritage in the Age of AI : Exploring Access, Practices, and Sustainability

Abstract: This thesis aims to explore and gain an understanding of the current AI landscape within Swedish Cultural Heritage using purposive interviews with five cultural heritage institutions with ongoing AI projects. This study fills a knowledge gap in the practical implementation of AI at Swedish institutions in addition to the sustainable use of technologies for cultural heritage. The overarching discussion further includes related topics of ethical AI and long-term sustainability, framing it from a perspective of Information Practices and a socio-material entanglement. Findings show that AI technologies can play an important part in cultural heritage, with a range of practical applications if certain issues are overcome. Moreover, the utilisation of AI will increase. The study also indicates a need for regulations, digitisation efforts, and increased investments in resources to adopt the technologies into current practices sustainably. The conclusion highlights a need for the cultural heritage sector to converge and find collectively applicable solutions for implementing AI.