Generative AI and Historical Visual Representations: Conversation Logs and Generated Images

This dataset contains empirical source material from research by Roman Smirnov (Ruhr University Bochum) on the generation of visual representations of historical events by generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The research examines how generative AI systems produce and account for visual representations of historical events. The empirical material comprises interactions with three commercially available systems—ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot—across four historical cases: the ascension of Cleopatra VII, the execution of Girolamo Savonarola, the Battle of Austerlitz, and the 1971 Gandhi–Nixon diplomatic encounter. All materials were generated on 25 May 2026 using the most current versions of the respective AI models available at the time of data collection. The archive preserves both conversation logs, documenting prompts, system responses, image-generation processes, and refusals, and the AI-generated images resulting from these interactions. The materials are deposited here as a persistent archival copy. Where available, the original platform-hosted conversation links are cited as the primary references to the respective interactions. The archive contains 12 conversation logs and 9 separately preserved generated images. For Microsoft Copilot, the archived conversation logs do not contain the generated images due to technical limitations. The corresponding image files are therefore preserved separately where available. Contents Conversation logs ChatGPT_Austerlitz_Log.pdf ChatGPT_CleopatraVII_Log.pdf ChatGPT_Gandhi_Nixon_Log.pdf ChatGPT_Savonarola_Log.pdf Copilot_Austerlitz_Log.pdf Copilot_CleopatraVII_Log.pdf Copilot_Gandhi_Nixon_Log.pdf Copilot_Savonarola_Log.pdf Gemini_Austerlitz_Log.pdf Gemini_CleopatraVII_Log.pdf Gemini_Gandhi_Nixon_Log.pdf Gemini_Savonarola_Log.pdf AI-generated images ChatGPT_Austerlitz_Image.png ChatGPT_CleopatraVII_Image.png ChatGPT_Gandhi_Nixon_Image.png ChatGPT_Savonarola_Image.png Copilot_Austerlitz_Image.png Copilot_CleopatraVII_Image.png Copilot_Savonarola_Image.png Gemini_Austerlitz_Image.jpeg Gemini_CleopatraVII_Image.jpeg