Media members are invited to an interview opportunity on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 10:00 am at the Galt Museum & Archives at 502 1 Street S, Lethbridge, AB. Archivist Andrew Chernevych will be available to provide interviews and conduct a demo of the new AI model. 

Lethbridge —The Galt Museum & Archives | Akaisamitohkanao’pa (eternal gathering place) is proud to present Archipanion, an innovative AI model designed specifically for archives. Developed by 4eyes GmbH, a Swiss company specializing in cutting-edge technologies, this groundbreaking model offers an unparalleled capability for searching and analyzing images and videos, revolutionizing the way archival systems operate. 

Traditionally, archival systems rely on metadata or associated descriptions to locate images. However, Archipanion's AI model can comprehend and interpret images without any accompanying information. This groundbreaking advancement opens a world of possibilities for users seeking visual content. 

"With Archipanion, searching for images becomes effortless. Users can simply input a question or phrase, such as 'people eating,' and the system instantly retrieves a wide range of social situations related to meals, encompassing restaurants, picnics, and country fairs," explains Andrew Chernevych, Head Archivist for Galt Museum and Archives.  

"Even without specific keywords in the description, Archipanion comprehends the underlying concept and delivers relevant images within seconds. The search capability also extends to abstract concepts like 'dangerous activities'." 

For the Galt, a significant opportunity arises with Archipanion's ability to analyze images lacking descriptions. Tens of thousands of Lethbridge Herald photos, currently scanned but without accompanying metadata, remain inaccessible.  

However, Archipanion's integration can transform these images into a searchable online collection by skipping a very time-consuming process (archival description) that normally keeps records inaccessible for years. This pivotal development proves to be a game changer, empowering the exploration and discovery of Galt's extensive photographic archives and serving as a powerful engagement tool for the public. 

"The possibilities are truly remarkable. We anticipate that 16,000 Herald images will be made available on Archipanion in a short timeframe, with ongoing expansion in the years ahead," adds Chernevych.  

"This advancement ensures that the rich visual heritage preserved within the Galt archive can be easily explored and enjoyed by individuals from all walks of life. In the future, this capacity will be built into new-generation content management systems, like the InMagic Discovery Interface that we are currently using now." 

An AI model of this type a significant milestone in archival systems, redefining how images and videos are searched, accessed, and appreciated. You can check out Archipanion here: https://galt.archipanion.com. 

This project is made possible by the Friends Society of the Sir Alexander Galt Museum & Archives through funding the initial development and the ongoing subscription and maintenance.

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This media release can be found at www.galtmuseum.com/news.

Media Contacts

Andrew Chernevych
Head Archivist, Galt Museum & Archives
andrew.chernevych@galtmuseum.com
403.329.7302 

Peter Tah
Marketing and Communications Officer
peter.tah@galtmuseum.com
403.320.4009