In the contemporary digital era, artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly shapes how human knowledge and culture are generated, analysed, and preserved. The accelerating digitisation of information presents significant benefits, including unparalleled accessibility and flexibility; however, it simultaneously raises profound concerns regarding the long-term preservation of collective memory and historical heritage. To counter the vulnerabilities inherent in digital archiving—such as technological obsolescence, data corruption, and algorithmic bias—this essay argues for the strategic practice of artefacting, defined as the deliberate creation of tangible, physical records from digital data. By examining both the strengths and weaknesses of digital archives, alongside the enduring value of analogue records, a balanced and hybrid approach emerges as essential for safeguarding historical integrity and cultural continuity.

Historically, human memory and culture have been preserved through tangible objects: cave paintings, manuscripts, sculptures, and printed books have all served as stable mediums through which historical events and socio-cultural contexts are documented and conveyed across generations. The current digital transformation radically departs from this tradition by primarily storing information electronically, resulting in intangible and often ephemeral records. Digital records, despite their accessibility, are inherently susceptible to technological entropy; they face rapid obsolescence, data corruption, format incompatibility, and loss due to hardware failures. Entrusting historical documentation entirely to digital media may render crucial aspects of our heritage irretrievable for future generations.

Beyond physical vulnerabilities, the increasing reliance on AI-driven algorithmic historiography introduces further ethical and epistemological concerns. Algorithms trained to categorise, archive, and interpret vast quantities of historical data inherently reflect the biases and values of their human creators and trainers. Consequently, they risk perpetuating and amplifying systemic biases and marginalising alternative narratives, compromising the authenticity and inclusivity of historical representation. A clear example is the controversy surrounding biases within facial recognition systems or predictive algorithms that disproportionately marginalise certain communities, demonstrating how algorithmic decision-making can distort historical records and socio-cultural narratives.

Moreover, algorithmic histories frequently lack the nuanced perspectives essential to comprehensive historiography. Although computational analysis excels in identifying patterns within vast data sets, it is insufficient for capturing qualitative dimensions such as emotional nuance, ethical judgement, and cultural significance. Human interpretative input remains crucial in providing empathy, context-sensitive interpretation, and ethical accountability, complementing algorithmic analyses to produce richer, more authentic historical accounts.

Physical artefacts remain essential precisely because of their inherent stability and tangible connection to historical contexts. Unlike digital records, printed books, handwritten journals, and material archives offer persistent accessibility and authenticity, immune to technological obsolescence. Artefacts hold intrinsic cultural and emotional resonance, preserving not only the informational content but also the socio-cultural context and human agency embedded within their creation. These tangible records serve as touchstones for human experience and historical consciousness, underscoring their continued relevance in the digital age.

Artefacting emerges as a practical and strategic response to the vulnerabilities of digital preservation. Defined explicitly as the deliberate conversion of digital information into physical, tangible forms, artefacting mitigates the risk of data loss and technological obsolescence while ensuring interpretative authenticity. For instance, digital communications and records can be archived in printed forms or preserved through microfilm to ensure durability. Crucially, artefacting reintroduces active human involvement, enabling historians and archivists to critically interpret and contextualise historical records, consciously counteracting algorithmic biases and safeguarding interpretative richness.

A hybrid approach that integrates the advantages of digital technologies with the durability and interpretative depth of analogue archives represents the most sustainable archival strategy for the future. Digital archives facilitate broad access, rapid retrieval, and computational analysis, while physical artefacts ensure long-term stability, authenticity, and contextual integrity. Institutional policies and archival practices should thus advocate for integrated strategies that embrace both digital and analogue methods, supported by ongoing human oversight. Practical steps, such as routine migration of digital data, diversified storage solutions, regular creation of physical records, and human-mediated interpretation of historical contexts, would significantly enhance archival robustness.

Preserving human history in the digital age necessitates strategic consideration of both digital and analogue archival methods. Artefacting addresses digital vulnerabilities by transforming intangible digital records into durable, physical artefacts, reintroducing essential human interpretative judgment and contextual sensitivity. By balancing digital accessibility and analytical power with analogue stability and authenticity, future generations will inherit a comprehensive, nuanced, and ethically sound cultural heritage. Ultimately, it is this synergy between human interpretation and technological capability that will most effectively safeguard our collective historical legacy.