AI in Information Management: Opportunities and Challenges Discussed at the National Archives
den haag, zondag, 15 juni 2025.
The National Archives is organising a thematic session on the impact of artificial intelligence on information management. Experts will discuss the opportunities and challenges of AI in archiving and managing information. With presentations on privacy, ethical aspects, and the collaboration between humans and machines, this session offers valuable insights for information professionals. Registration is available via the Leerhuis website.
Opportunities and Challenges of AI in Information Management
Last Wednesday, the National Archives organised a thematic session on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on information management. With nearly 150 participants, the interest was clearly significant. Experts discussed the opportunities and challenges that AI presents for archiving and managing information. The event focused on various aspects, including privacy, ethical considerations, and the collaboration between humans and machines [6].
Presentations and Discussions
Marieke van der Laan, director of the National Archives, opened the session with a speech on the opportunities AI offers to make archives more accessible. She emphasised that AI provides new possibilities for automating archiving and improving search functionality in archives. ‘AI offers new opportunities to make archives more accessible,’ said Van der Laan [6].
Privacy and Ethical Aspects
A key topic during the session was privacy and the ethical aspects of AI. Mitchell Hendriks, chairman of Futur, pointed out that the discussion about AI in the public sector has shifted towards the real challenges: bureaucratic red tape, outdated structures, and ingrained cultures. ‘The discussion has shifted towards the real challenges of the public sector: bureaucratic red tape, outdated structures, and ingrained cultures,’ said Hendriks [5]. Christian Verhagen stressed the need to move away from old structures and make room for the new. ‘We will need to take decisive action, by moving away from old structures and radically making room for the new,’ said Verhagen [5].
Collaboration Between Humans and Machines
Another important point was the collaboration between humans and machines. Experts emphasised that AI is not a replacement for human expertise but a tool that can improve the efficiency and accuracy of information management. Presentations demonstrated how AI can be used to automate routine tasks, detect patterns in large datasets, and enhance the accessibility of information for various target groups [6].
Practical Examples and Applications
Several practical examples were presented to illustrate the applications of AI in information management. Xillio, a company specialising in content migration and information management, shared their experiences with integrating AI into content management systems. They highlighted the crucial role AI can play in improving data quality and securing sensitive information. ‘Smart content is only valuable when it’s secure,’ said Xillio [3].
Future Perspectives and Next Session
The session concluded with a look to the future. Marieke van der Laan announced that the next thematic session is scheduled for 10 October 2025. This will focus on the implementation of AI in practical cases and the experiences of organisations that have already begun integrating AI into their information management. The main conclusion of the session was that collaboration between humans and machines is essential for the effective application of AI in information management [6].