The lecture addressed the impact of Artificial Intelligence in creating a cognitive and methodological transformation in the writing of history. AI is no longer viewed merely as a technical tool, but as a factor that reshapes the very nature of historical knowledge production.
It explained that the shift from the traditional method—based on limited manual reading of sources—to the digital approach—based on big data analysis and technologies such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP)—has enabled historians to examine vast quantities of documents and extract patterns, trends, and temporal transformations more efficiently.
The lecture also emphasized that while AI is capable of quantitative analysis and pattern detection, it cannot replace the historian’s role in interpretation, contextual understanding, and narrative construction. Human expertise remains essential in analyzing cultural contexts and giving meaning to historical evidence.
Practical applications related to the history of Qatar were discussed, particularly in studying the formation of the state and the economic transformation from a pearl-based economy to an oil state. The lecture highlighted how AI tools can support research on demographic shifts, trade records, and archival materials related to these transitions.
At the same time, it addressed key challenges such as algorithmic bias and data sovereignty, stressing the importance of critical awareness when using digital technologies in historical research.
The lecture concluded by emphasizing the need for integration between human knowledge and technology to advance historical research and strengthen national identity in the digital age.
