Past Events
BAAC Conference 2025
The 20th Annual BAAC Conference took place on 13–14 November 2025 in Vilnius, Lithuania, hosted by the Lithuanian Central State Archives, the National Library of Lithuania and the Archivists’ Association of Lithuania.
In recent years, memory institutions responsible for preserving audiovisual heritage—moving images, sound recordings, photographs—have increasingly explored the possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI). During the conference, speakers and participants highlighted how rapidly evolving AI technologies now offer powerful tools to enhance access, enrich metadata and introduce innovative methods for engaging with heritage materials.
The discussions demonstrated that, when applied thoughtfully, AI can support professionals in memory institutions by improving efficiency, particularly in repetitive or technical tasks such as processing, describing and organising large audiovisual collections. The conference also showcased how AI can help uncover hidden connections and thematic patterns across collections—insights that might otherwise remain undetected through manual analysis.
At the same time, the event underscored that AI is neither perfect nor a standalone solution. Its use raises important questions about authenticity, transparency and the ethical reuse of cultural content. Participants agreed that ensuring AI technologies serve the goals of memory institutions requires responsible implementation guided by the expertise of heritage professionals.
Conference language: English.