AI Talking to Holocaust Survivors after Death

by vivien f. ‘21

As one of the last generations to have first-hand connections to Holocaust survivors, we must find a way to preserve direct accounts of their history. Nearly 75 years after the end of World War II, scientists have taken on the task of recording Holocaust stories as told by survivors using artificial intelligence (AI). Future generations will be able to question survivors directly through interactive interviews made possible by this technology.

Heather Maio, who has worked for years in Holocaust exhibits, spearheaded this AI project. She took on the responsibility of helping to preserve survivors' accounts after many years of conversing with them. Maio says, "I wanted to talk to a Holocaust survivor like I would today, with that person sitting right in front of me." Maio saw AI as the perfect opportunity to solve this issue. She consulted the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to interviewing survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust and other genocides, and set this plan into action. Many initially pushed back against this idea, and some still find moral issues with it. They raise the questions; "Is it the right thing to do?", "What about the wellbeing of the survivors?", and "Are we trying to keep victims alive beyond their deaths?” Despite pushback and fear that AI would lessen the horrors of the Holocaust, more than 20 interviews have been recorded. Many Holocaust survivors were eager to sign up and did not worry about the controversy, instead hoping to immortalize their stories. 

The interviews are conducted in a bubble with many lights and over twenty cameras. The high-speed cameras provide a view meant to be compatible with future technological advances in areas such as virtual reality and hologram projections. The actual interview process is very time-consuming. Pinchas Gutter, the first survivor that signed up, explained that he was in the chair an entire week, eight hours a day. He was asked around two thousand questions hoping to cover all aspects of his experience during the Holocaust. As more interviews have been conducted, the required set-up has shrunk so it can be more easily transported. This change allows the interviews to be conducted closer to the survivor's place of residence. However, the time period for questioning has remained the same: one week. To diversify the interviews, the USC Shoah Foundation deliberately chooses survivors with unique experiences, allowing future generations to hear the many different aspects of the Holocaust's tragic story. 

In the AI interviewing process with Pinchas Gutters, digital image viewers receive an almost seamless response to an abundance of questions. To create a smooth conversational encounter, Gutter and any other interviewees must wear the same clothes each day of questioning. On the more technical side, the algorithm must work quickly and effectively to deliver flawless responses by rapidly searching through the database and bringing back the most appropriate answer to the viewer’s question. 

The wonders of AI connect generations separated by death but cannot replace true human to human interactions.  Aaron Elster, another holocaust survivor, has been interviewed after his death using AI. He responds to questions about his childhood, the war, and his parents, but when he is asked about something simple such as the weather, he is unable to respond, stating, "I'm actually a recording. I cannot answer that question."  Clearly, we must make the most of the waning moments we have with our living history by taking advantage of our current technology.