Archiving's Future with Blockchain and AI

Sep 23, 2024

Fintech Surge Advanced Team Conversation – Hamad Al-Mutteiri

Introduction

  • Speaker: Hamad Al-Mutteiri, Director at the National Archives of UAE
  • Interviewer: John Lillywhite, Google Research Associate
  • Focus: Blockchain and AI in archiving

National Archives of UAE

  • Established: 1968, before UAE union
  • Purpose: Capture documents related to the region, not just Abu Dhabi
  • Law: 2008 law (No. 7) regulates archiving at federal level

Importance of Archiving

  • Role: Archives hold significant documents that portray historical and cultural heritage
  • Challenges: Transition from physical to digital
  • Education: Partnership with Sorbonne University for academic programs
    • Professional Certificate, Bachelor and Master in Archiving

Government and Community Engagement

  • Campaigns: Launched awareness campaigns for archiving importance
  • Data Preservation: Highlighted as crucial for organizational and national operations
  • Initiatives: Individual campaigns for personal records

Digital Archiving and Technology Challenges

  • Digital Archiving: How to preserve data like tweets and videos
  • Technological Challenges: Identifying what digital data to keep

Blockchain and AI in Archiving

  • Tech Integration: Exploring blockchain and AI applications in archival processes
  • AI Use: Machine learning for document recognition, classification
  • Blockchain Role: Secure, decentralized data storage

Standards and International Collaboration

  • International Standards: UAE participates in the International Council on Archives (ICA)
  • Partnerships: Collaborations like with UK National Archives

Future of Archiving and Challenges

  • Digital Transition: Shift to managing digital records
  • Federal Systems: Exploring AI and blockchain for federal archiving systems
  • Training: Importance of training individuals and entities in data management

Conclusion

  • Data as a Resource: Emphasis on authentic and trusted data for decision-making
  • Vision: UAE Government's strategy aligns with digital archiving innovations

Note: The conversation covered various aspects of archiving, challenges, and the future direction involving blockchain and AI technologies.