Dr. Katharina Reusch, a data scientist who joined Capgemini Invent in 2024, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to transcribe and make accessible wartime oral histories held by the Imperial War Museums. Drawing on her background in neuroscience and experience at IBM, Reusch focused on creating a bespoke AI system capable of accurately processing recordings characterized by strong accents and background noise—challenges that standard transcription tools struggled to overcome.

The project involved digitizing and transcribing around 8,000 interviews capturing firsthand accounts from the Second World War, including narratives of the Normandy landings, British nursing staff, and detailed recollections from a German soldier detained for eight years in Soviet camps. With the new AI-enhanced transcription system, Reusch was able to process approximately 45,000 audio files within two days—a task that would have taken a single person over two decades to complete manually.

Alongside the transcription work, Reusch developed an application allowing users to search the archive for specific names, locations, or events, read summaries, and listen to audio playback synchronized with the transcripts. This tool aims to make the extensive oral-history collection more accessible and engaging to a wider audience, emphasizing the importance of preserving and sharing firsthand wartime experiences.

Reusch describes the project as both professionally rewarding and emotionally impactful, noting that the technology serves not just a functional purpose but also resonates deeply with users. Her commitment to advancing Capgemini’s AI capabilities reflects a career marked by continuous adaptation to emerging technologies, having transitioned through big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and now agentic AI—a form of AI that emphasizes autonomous decision-making.

In addition to her technical work, Reusch advocates for greater representation of women in technology. As a mother, she regularly visits schools to inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields, acknowledging progress made in recent years while recognizing ongoing challenges.

The development of this AI tool by Capgemini Invent, under Reusch’s leadership, showcases how advanced technology can unlock the potential of historical archives, providing new ways for people to engage with and learn from the past.