Large language models are proving to be valuable research assistants for historians. They are being used to analyze historical documents, including astronomical tables produced in early modern cities like Venice. This approach allows historians to draw connections across a broader swath of the historical record than would otherwise be possible. However, it also introduces distortions, including the risk that machine learning will slip bias or outright falsifications into the historical record. The question arises: with machines set to play a greater role in the future, how much should we cede to them of the past? The application of modern computer science to the distant past helps correct distortions that come from analyzing history one document at a time. But it also requires careful consideration of the implications.
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