The colorization of images, especially that of historical images, can be helpful in depicting the time frame of the image. I say this because many times people do not realize how recent our history actually is. When seeing a picture in color, our minds tend to think it isn’t too old due to how recent colored images are. This isn’t to say, however, that colorized images are realistic, especially with the use of artificial intelligence. As shown through my own colorized image, the colors tend to be flat with little variation in hue, saturation, or value. The ai simply overlays colors with no mind to how colors act in different settings. In the image below, the board is neon pink while the rest of the colors are muted and the blanket on the bed is red but turns blue as it gets closer to the wall. This becomes a major problem when colorizing, for example, a person of color as lighter than they actually are. There is even the issue of copyright as some ai steal artwork, photography, and information from others to generate more accurate answers. In terms of historical accuracy, ai is beginning to be more heavily relied on. Sometimes even more so than historians themselves.
These studies and projects also seem to promote the idea that computer scientists are more adept at historical research than art historians.For years, university humanities departments have been gradually squeezed of funding, with more money funneled into the sciences.
Sonja Drimmer, How AI is Hijacking Art History, The Conversation
This seems to be an issue due to the idea that STEM, and therefore AI, are entirely unbiased. However, due to AI being created by humans, it is bound to have some form of bias, even if small. Additionally, AI cannot view data through the same lens as humans. Despite this,more and more historians use AI to search for and organize humanistic data.
Most historians are regularly relying on technology that incorporates AI, such as search engines and recommender systems
Lauren Tilton, “Relating to Historical Sources,”
Personally, I believe AI could be incorporated into historical analysis as a tool to aid historians in research. Though I don’t believe AI could ever accurately replace the work of historians or steamroll the process of historical analysis.
2 thoughts on “Week 4 Lab”
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You make great points about AI’s limitations in colorizing historical images. While it can help visualize the past, its flaws—like oversimplified colors and biases—show why it shouldn’t replace human interpretation. AI is a tool, not a historian, and relying on it too much risks losing accuracy and context. It’s best used to assist, not define, historical analysis. Great work!
I hadn’t considered how the lack of color in slightly older images impacts our understanding of when the photograph was taken, but that’s a really good point. I would also like to suggest incorporating your images earlier in your post since you describe the difference in visuals earlier in your text. Having the images sooner would help the reader compare it to what you described in writing.