One of last year’s standout moments for the HAICu project was participating in HackaLOD 2024. HackaLOD is a creative hackathon competition focused on Linked Open Data (LOD) organized by NDE (Netwerk Digitaal Erfgoed). While the HAICu team didn’t walk away with a prize this time, the event was a significant milestone in showcasing the project’s interdisciplinary approach and commitment to co-creating AI-driven solutions for cultural heritage.
Building Toward a Multimodal Future
The HAICu team tackled a highly relevant and timely theme: the intertwined history of Islam in the Netherlands and its former colonies. Their innovative goal was to design a chatbot and interactive timeline that would allow users to explore this history from multiple perspectives. The project combined elements of Linked Open Data, artificial intelligence, and digital heritage, creating a rich use case that aligns perfectly with HAICu’s broader mission.
Although still in an early phase of development, the team’s work laid the groundwork for advancing AI solutions in cultural heritage. The prototype demonstrated how AI can integrate diverse datasets, from handwritten archives to museum objects, to make historical narratives more accessible and inclusive.
The Power of Collaboration
A key success factor in this project was the close collaboration between HAICu team members and the Nationaal Archief (National Archives). Special credit goes to Simon Kemper from the Nationaal Archief, who co-led the team and worked tirelessly to create a compelling use case. His expertise and dedication ensured that the project highlighted the importance of co-creation, one of HAICu’s core values.
In facing the hackathon challenge, the team gained valuable insights into why their work in HAICu’s Work Packages 2 (continual machine learning with humans in the loop) and 5 (Construction of polyvocal, multimodal narratives) is so crucial. Together they bridged the gap between AI research, digital humanities, and cultural heritage professionals. In doing so, the HAICu team took the first steps toward realizing a multimodal Delpher, a platform designed to integrate and explore cultural heritage data across different formats.
Tackling a Sensitive and Relevant Topic
The history of Islam in the Netherlands is a topic that carries significant societal relevance. In recent years, it has become a subject of intense political and public debate. The HAICu team approached this theme with care, aiming to add nuance and context to discussions through responsible historical analysis and contextualization.
For instance, the chatbot and timeline tools designed and evaluated during HackaLOD empower users to explore this history in an engaging, evidence-based manner. This approach demonstrates how AI can support society by deepening our understanding of complex topics, offering a counterbalance to polarized narratives.
While the topic itself isn’t at the forefront of the HAICu project, it remains a testament to the project’s ability to engage with meaningful and impactful issues.
Looking Ahead
HackaLOD 2024 was an early-stage but pivotal step in HAICu’s journey toward developing AI-driven tools for cultural heritage. The interdisciplinary collaboration and focus on co-creation exemplified during the hackathon underscore HAICu’s mission to connect AI, cultural heritage, and society in meaningful ways. As the HAICu project moves forward, events like HackaLOD highlight its potential to make cultural heritage more accessible, inclusive, and impactful for the broader public.
The Nationaal Archief continues to build on the tools developed during HackaLOD, with plans to integrate them into a larger project exploring the history of Islam in the Netherlands.
Read more about HackaLOD 2024 in our earlier update with a link to an NDE article, the hosting organization.
Written by Merlijn Broersma