AI preparedness guidelines for archivists

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a regular topic of conversation in archives. Managers and stakeholders are asking whether AI can speed up description, identify sensitive content, or provide new forms of access. This document offers practical guidance on how to prepare archival collections for AI in ways that remain true to archival principles and ethical commitments. The key message is simple: AI can support archival work, but only when collections are made “AI-ready” through careful preparation, documentation, and governance. Automation is a constrained necessity, not a magic solution.