Artificial Intelligence Can Clarify Difficult Text and Provide “History Reveals”
When transcribing difficult to read documents, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can provide another “set of eyes” to review troublesome passages. After uploading a scanned image of the document, the AI agent, such as ChatGPT, can be instructed to analyze the handwriting and partial transcription. Then, it can be asked for its best recommendation for the unclear text. Afterward, AI can provide context if the meaning of the passage is still not apparent.
It is so satisfying when an illegible or confusing phrase in a document transcription suddenly becomes clear. Especially when the phrase sheds light on current events maybe occurring in the writer’s life or possibly around the world. These “History Reveals” provide “feel good” moments.
When transcribing difficult to read documents, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can provide another “set of eyes” to review troublesome passages. After uploading a scanned image of the document, the AI agent, such as ChatGPT, can be instructed to analyze the handwriting and partial transcription. Then, it can be asked for its best recommendation for the unclear text. Afterward, AI can provide context if the meaning of the passage is still not apparent.
Here’s an example:
A business letter of April 1887 involving foreign financing had the following sentence transcribed as: “Hope Bismark & Bolanger will not interfere in our success”
The two names did not match any known associates of the correspondents. And, despite the misspelling, Bismark was an obvious clue to Otto Van Bismarck. Bolanger, however, didn’t convey the same name recognition. Could the letter be referring to Bismarck, the German Chancellor?
The names Bismark and Bolanger were entered into ChatGPT along with the date April 1887. The agent was asked to research the input and provide the most likely connection between the names, the date, and any potential impact on international business at that time.
ChatGPT provided the following “History Reveal” previously unknown to the transcriber:
“In April 1887, the Schnaebele Affair—sparked by the arrest of a French police inspector by German authorities—nearly brought France and Germany to war. General Georges Boulanger became the symbol of French nationalism, while Chancellor Otto von Bismarck maneuvered to preserve his alliances. Newspapers in Europe and the United States warned of conflict, and financial markets wavered.[i] For American projects dependent on overseas investors, any disruption in Europe risked a sudden loss of capital and the collapse of enterprise.[ii]
Of course, other research tools could have been used to find the same information. However, AI delivered the answer within seconds and provided a list of references as well. This efficient research task added another “feel good” moment to the “History Reveal.”
What remains important, however, is what is known as the human loop. Meaning, in part, that while AI may seem accurate and present only factual information, it is critically important to verify what AI states. In this instance, the prompts included instructions to cite facts with known sources, which can then be looked up by a researcher to verify their accuracy. Without this step, AI hallucinations—made up information that it thinks is accurate—could be problematic if relied on.