AI technology is invading every field, including historic preservation. However, one important factor cannot be ignored, and that’s the ethics of using AI to redesign heritage neighbourhoods. These heritage areas can go beyond a single site, including buildings and landscapes shaped by historical, cultural, or natural elements. Using AI in preservation can cause harm. Many other industries have issues with AI, and some may overlap in this field. In preservation specifically, the main issue is a lack of a framework for creating ethical boundaries.
Bias Issues
For starters, humans naturally possess biases. Despite its binary systems, AI can have them as well, because it is trained on data often created or reported by other humans. In the context of heritage neighbourhoods, this can be dangerous when the question of what should actually be preserved comes up. AI’s systems can naturally retain those biases. Despite this, AI cannot understand or express the human emotions that are often tied to preservation sites. In this way, how is the technology supposed to determine whether a historic or cultural site has enough influence to be preserved? The bias in the data could contradict what people feel about a site and, therefore, whether or not it should be preserved.
Sensitive Data
Another issue involving AI usage in redesigning heritage neighbourhoods is the existence of sensitive data. When data control is no longer solely in human possession, there is a risk that it could be leaked if it falls into the wrong hands. This also brings up the issue of copyright. Creating digital versions of sensitive documents, objects, or buildings creates questions of ownership. With whom does the property then belong? Would it be the original architect, the preservation organisation, or even the AI technology company? The ethics of ownership of sensitive data needs to be addressed, but there are currently no regulations that do so.
Capitalistic Interests
Furthermore, capitalistic interests often fund AI technology companies. Heritage neighbourhoods and preservation organisations, on the other hand, usually belong to government or non-profit organisations. Could this lead to a conflict of interest? Historical and cultural sites are worth preserving for a reason. They exist so people can experience them and learn about moments in time or cultures different from their own. Using AI technology for these sites could change how these preservation organisations operate and possibly limit accessibility. While money is a factor in preserving these places, it could turn heritage neighbourhoods into a capitalistic playground.
Factually Incorrect
Additionally, AI technology can be incorrect. These factual errors can be especially upsetting in regard to redesigning heritage neighbourhoods. AI works off of given data. It makes assumptions with the information it has. Related to the topic of bias, sometimes that data could only be partially representative of one particular group, not everyone. Generative AI can also be used in the reconstruction of broken historic structures to try and determine what they used to look like. But who’s to say if the technology’s interpretation is correct? Theoretically, any artist out there could try to recreate the structure. But the use of generative AI could lead to the falsification of a historical narrative.
The Contradiction
Lastly, one of the biggest downsides to using AI to redesign heritage neighbourhoods lies in the contradiction of trying to preserve while the technology destroys. AI technology is not actively sustainable. This technology may save time or money by replacing human labour and repetitive tasks. But the downside is that it consumes so much energy and resources to keep it powered. Is it worth it? The field of historic preservation is full of many different methodologies and approaches on how to save sites. Cities and landscapes are being preserved, not just singular buildings. The contradiction of saving and destroying simultaneously should not be ignored. Discussions are needed about whether the benefits of using AI in preservation are worthwhile.
Addressing the Ethics
While there are many potential downsides to using AI to redesign heritage neighbourhoods, it’s important to consider that this technology will continue to exist and grow. It’s up to those in leadership roles in preservation organisations to determine how it will be used and whether or not it will be done so in the right ways. Studies are currently being done on its use, and preservationists need to research whether using AI will benefit their specific goals for saving heritage neighbourhoods. After the research phase, the second step is to properly establish frameworks for ethical AI use in the preservation field.
At this time, AI still remains a polarising topic. Its use in such a delicate field as historic preservation deepens this divide. It can be beneficial in some regards, but right now, there are disadvantages to its use that should not be ignored. It raises ethical concerns that could harm heritage neighbourhoods if not properly addressed and dealt with. AI should be regulated to protect not only the historic and cultural sites it preserves, but the industry of historic preservation as a whole.
Reference List:
Shaikhon, A.M.H. (2025). Contextual Ethical Framework for Artificial Intelligence in the Management of Cultural Heritage. STAR Science & Technology of Archaeological Research, [online] 11(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2025.2564519.
