The Smithsonian Institution is leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance the study and accessibility of its extensive collection related to the American Revolution, coinciding with the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence. The initiative, known as Revolution Crossroads, aims to connect disparate historical artifacts and records to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the communities that shaped the nation’s early years.

Since the project’s launch in the spring, Smithsonian researchers have employed AI models to analyze and link objects and documents from the 1770 to 1810 period more efficiently than traditional manual methods. For example, the team identified a silversmith who placed newspaper advertisements in 1774 for a creamer resembling one held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. These connections historically required extensive cross-referencing between multiple archives, but AI has accelerated the process, revealing new narratives about lesser-known individuals who contributed to their communities during that era.

Becky Kobberod, the Smithsonian’s chief digital and innovation officer, said the initiative aims to augment the public record by highlighting stories beyond well-known figures like Thomas Jefferson or George Washington. “Maybe they’re not Thomas Jefferson or George Washington, but they did live in a community and build that community, and that name is now known,” Kobberod said.

The Smithsonian, founded in 1846, oversees 21 museums and galleries, including the National Zoo. Its role in preserving and interpreting American history has grown more prominent amid ongoing political discussions about how the nation’s story is represented. Kobberod’s team has identified approximately 10,000 objects tied to individuals from the revolutionary period, many of which have been digitized or re-digitized to enable AI analysis. These digitized records are accessible to the public through an online platform.

Collaborating with the Smithsonian is the Library of Congress, whose director of digital strategy, Natalie Buda Smith, emphasized how the project helps streamline research by guiding scholars through resources that might otherwise seem fragmented across institutions. She noted the significance of the creamer example, which “illustrates that there’s a richness out there and you might find part of the story at the Smithsonian and part of the story at the library.” The initiative is designed to help users follow these interconnected histories more easily.

The project unfolds against a backdrop of intensifying debate over the use and oversight of artificial intelligence. Industry leaders recently met in Washington to discuss voluntary safety protocols, while members of Congress from both parties have called for stronger regulatory measures. Kobberod acknowledged the “healthy fear” surrounding AI, stressing that the Smithsonian does not deploy the latest autonomous models currently under scrutiny. Instead, the institution emphasizes human oversight, with historians reviewing AI-generated findings to preserve contextual nuance and accuracy.

Despite concerns, Kobberod affirmed the Smithsonian’s commitment to integrating AI tools thoughtfully. “It’s not going away,” she said. “We do believe we need to lean in and figure out the part that this technology plays in our work.”