At Ghosts of DC, we’ve been digging up Washington’s buried history since 2012. Here’s how we use artificial intelligence in that work, and where we draw the line.
Research
We use AI tools to conduct deep research and fact-checking, and we prioritize primary sources from authoritative archives: historical newspapers, government records, census data, maps, and period accounts. AI helps us work through more material than would otherwise be possible, but a human guides the editorial process at every step. Every historical claim that ends up in a post is verified before it goes live.
Writing
AI assists with drafting and editing. We leverage these tools to make producing high-quality, well-researched content viable at the depth and frequency our readers expect. The voice, the judgment calls, the decision about what’s worth your time: those are ours. No post goes live without human review.
Images
We enhance and transform historical images in several ways: colorizing black-and-white photographs, generating images where historical ones don’t exist or are unavailable, and animating still images into motion. We label all of this in the caption. We will never pass off an altered or generated image as an unmodified historical photograph.
Accountability
AI makes mistakes. So do we. If you spot an error, reach out at hello@ghostsofdc.org. We correct the record. Our commitment to accuracy predates AI tools and isn’t going anywhere.
Last updated: May 2026