Is Artificial Intelligence the Future of Collective Memory?

This Memory Studies Review special issue explores the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence (ai) and collective memory. In the one hand, the emergence of generative ai, exemplified by ChatGPT’s 2022 release, appears to herald a new infrastructure for collective memory. On the other, the memory studies work highlights the limits and the backlashes of this new form of memory in its social dimension. This leads to raise a provocative, open-ended question: Is artificial intelligence the future of collective memory? Our issue brings together diverse perspectives from memory studies scholars of different backgrounds and machine learning practitioners, fostering critical engagement with ai in memory practices. This multidisciplinary approach offers an initial exploration of the interactions between ai-powered software, platforms, and collective memory. The articles herein present a multifaceted analysis of ai’s role in shaping collective memory’s future. We advocate for increased interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical reflection in this rapidly evolving domain, providing memory studies scholars with a foundation for understanding and engaging with these technological transformations.