“For the Benefit of Humankind:” The Library of Congress and AI for Libraries, Archives and Museums

The Library of Congress recently signed on as a founding member of an international organization devoted to exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in cultural heritage and research contexts “for the benefit of humankind.” The eighth meeting of the organization’s flagship annual conference, Fantastic Futures, is scheduled for September 15-17, 2026. The theme of the conference is Fantastic Futures 2026: Trust in the Loop, and the meeting will be co-hosted by the Library, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian Institution, with support from staff at these organizations and th