Introducing Artificial Intelligence into Romani Studies: Risks, Possibilities, and a New Model for Oral History Research

Online event. Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81833954633?pwd=s2h8aqL6dLosVk5UOJbGvaV84EblZg.1

Dr. Oylupinar’s talk introduces artificial intelligence into Romani Studies as a first field-defining intervention. While AI tools are increasingly used across academic disciplines—especially in transcription, classification, and archival analysis—they have yet to meaningfully enter research in Romani Studies. The presentation surveys selected examples of AI in historical and linguistic scholarship and then outlines the ethical and epistemic risks posed by current models when applied to marginalized voices. It concludes by presenting a newly developed AI pipeline tailored to the structure of Romani oral histories, designed not to extract information but to support narrative recognition and linguistic sensitivity. The talk frames this model as a template for building AI systems that serve fields shaped by absence, distortion, and testimonial fragility.

Dr. Huseyin Oylupinar is a scholar of memory, identity, and Eastern European history, with a focus on marginalized communities and oral testimony. He leads innovative research at the intersection of historical scholarship and artificial intelligence. His current work introduces AI into fields including Romani Studies, Holocaust research, and Slavic oral history, with a focus on ethical, linguistically sensitive processing of archival and testimonial materials. He is the founder of the Institute for Knowledge, Research, and Society, an institute that applies AI in the study of memory, history, and human narratives, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to empower marginalized voices and enhance academic research.

Welcome!