Which specialists will remain irreplaceable in the age of AI and why algorithms struggle with the past

In the era of rapid artificial intelligence (AI) development, the profession of historian remains out of reach for machines. This is the view of Jan Burzlaff, a specialist in the history of Nazi Germany at Cornell University. In his article published in Rethinking History, he explains why AI cannot replace historians, especially when it comes to complex and tragic events such as the Holocaust.

AI and Human Tragedies: Where Machines Go Wrong

Burzlaff analyzed how ChatGPT retells testimonies of Holocaust survivors recorded in 1995 in La Paz, Kraków, and Connecticut. The results showed that AI overlooks key emotional and moral details that form the essence of historical events.

For example, in the account of seven-year-old Luisa D., who described how her mother cut her finger to give a dying child “at least a drop of moisture” from her blood, ChatGPT completely ignored this episode. “If AI cannot convey the limits of human suffering, it will distort even less obvious stories,” Burzlaff emphasizes.

According to him, algorithms tend to simplify and generalize history, reducing complex events to a linear narrative. This is especially dangerous for subjects like the Holocaust, where not only facts but also their ethical weight are crucial.

Why Historians Are Irreplaceable

Burzlaff argues that historians have a unique ability to interpret testimonies with attention to their emotional and moral depth. AI, by contrast, works with repeating patterns and cannot grasp the subtleties of human experiences. “Algorithms smooth out and systematize, while the historian’s task is to preserve complexity and ethical significance,” the scholar notes.

He describes testimonies of genocide victims or instances of historical injustice as a “litmus test” for AI. Machines may offer new perspectives on data but cannot convey the uniqueness of each event. For example, the lived experience of the Holocaust cannot be reduced to the generalized formulas AI tends to favor.

Five Principles for Historians in the Age of AI

In his article, Burzlaff outlined five principles for historians and educators working with themes of trauma, genocide, and historical injustice:

1. Rely on unique testimonies rather than generalized data.
2. Preserve the emotional and moral depth of events, avoiding simplification.
3. Use AI as a tool for analysis, not as a substitute for the human approach.
4. Emphasize the ethical weight of historical events, especially tragedies.
5. “Do not sound like machines”—write and speak in a way that conveys the humanity and complexity of the past.

These principles are designed to help historians maintain their role in a world where algorithms increasingly penetrate science and education.

The Significance for the Future

According to Burzlaff, at stake is not only the memory of the Holocaust but also how humanity will interpret its past in the age of AI. If algorithms are entrusted with telling history, it risks becoming flat and meaningless. Historians, on the other hand, can preserve its complexity and humanity, reminding society of the importance of ethics and empathy.

“Our task is to prevent history from turning into a set of patterns that AI can easily process,” the scholar concludes.

In Short…

Jan Burzlaff’s research shows that the profession of historian remains indispensable even in the age of AI. Algorithms like ChatGPT cannot convey the emotional and moral depth of events, especially tragedies such as the Holocaust. The unique ability of historians to interpret testimonies and preserve the ethical weight of the past makes them key guardians of memory. In the age of algorithms, their role becomes even more vital, reminding us that history is not only about facts but also about human experiences.