THE PROJECT
Cutting-edge technologies at the service of historical truth
NuestramemorIA It is a transdisciplinary research initiative led by researchers from the Catholic University of Chile and Alberto Hurtado University, which seeks to develop an innovative framework for analyzing the archives of the Chilean civil-military dictatorship (1973–1990) through the use of new technologies. The project is funded by ANID through the Exploratorio 2025 grant (13250134) and Fondecyt (1251890).
THE CHALLENGE
Bringing Together What Is Scattered
The project originated at the Millennium Institute Foundational Research on Data in response to the challenge faced by research teams in attempting to process thousands of documents, photographs, and audio recordings from that period, which are scattered, fragmented, or in an advanced state of deterioration.
Unlike commercial Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, NuestramemorIA’s approach makes it possible to transform these static physical collections into dynamic digital datasets that can be queried remotely and efficiently, making it easier to identify patterns and connections that would be impossible to detect manually. The central goal is to develop a searchable, multimodal knowledge graph that integrates various historical records into a unified database.
METHODOLOGY
How We Work with Archives
NuestramemorIA It uses a collaborative methodology: the process is divided into five critical stages that combine the power of computational analysis with human expert judgment.
STEP 01
From Image to Text (OCR)
We clean and digitize damaged archives. The DHiSS dataset—which currently contains more than 160,000 verified images of words—is created to train models that understand the language and formatting of that era.
STEP 02
From Text to Entities (NER)
We automatically identify key names, dates, and places within a vast collection of documents.
STEP 03
Graph Construction
We link those entities. If a name appears, for example, in a document and in a court record, the system establishes the link.
STEP 04
Verifiable Query System
AI acts as a "forensic partner": the user asks a question, and the system provides the information along with a "pointer" or link to the original document, eliminating AI "hallucinations."
STEP 05
Human Validation (Human-in-the-loop)
Experts in history and law oversee and validate every step of the technical process, ensuring that the technology is consistent with the historical context.
VALUES
The commitment that guides our work
Mission
To contribute to historical memory through the ethical use of artificial intelligence, by processing multiplatform archives from the 1973–1990 period in Chile to strengthen access to truth, justice, and guarantees of non-repetition.
Vision
We envision a future in which technology actively contributes to historical memory, making it accessible and understandable so as to build a solid foundation for a citizenry that is aware of its rights.
Core Values
Technology Ethics
Maintain absolute respect for the sensitivity of the material being processed and the dignity of the people involved.
Transdisciplinarity
Integrate data science and AI with the practical expertise of the humanities, social sciences, and archival science.
Algorithmic Transparency
Develop explainable and auditable systems that help retrieve information without distorting the reality of the original documents.
Social Commitment
Use technology as a tool to address collective problems stemming from political violence.