Quote from Steve on July 25, 2025, 1:02 pm

A lot is being said about AI (Artificial Intelligence), both good and bad. For those who worry about its potential dangers the alarming news is that the economies of both the USA and China are each massively investing in a future based around dominating it. AI is not going away. Some warn that AI will bring the greatest uncontrollable 'man-made' change to the world we live in, starting in our lifetimes.

2025. ChatGPT-generated AI image.  'AI Saves Philately'. (Copyright. South African Philately Club.)
After I had registered, it took ChatGPT 18 words in 4 statements to create this AI image in under 5 minutes.
A year ago I would have had to pay hundreds of pounds to a graphic artist to produce a first draft within a week.

A few months ago while I was still involved with SACS, (South African Collectors' Society) as its webmaster, I had endure a Zoom committee meeting. Someone else, the secretary, was to supply me with notes. This is usually a difficult and laborious chore done to differing standards depending on the individual writing up the minutes of the meeting. The meeting convenor, however, initiated Zoom's AI app at its start and to my and others' amazement it produced a report on the meeting which while not perfect was very good, and more importantly, useful, time-saving and near-finished. (Because two of the attendees were both called 'Tony', it needed a few tweaks to the finished report to differentiate between them.) All-in-all, WOW! What an excellent and  practical use of AI. Simply stunning! This made me more amenable to AI's benefits.

My next encounter with AI was when my wife asked Grok, Elon Musk's X AI app, to recommend books for her to read based on the authors she likes. This worked out very well for her. She has had her nose stuck in books by several new authors every evening for some weeks now. She then thought to ask Grok the best two-day route from East Anglia to Devon with a half-way point stop at an overnight B&B, as well as walks and a recommendation of places to eat. She was delighted with the detailed reply she received, one complete with website links, directions, times and third-party recommendations. One day, if ever I own one of Musk's Teslas, I imagine I will be able to feed this data into my 'computer on wheels' and let the car take charge of driving me there. Take me to Devon, Tessie!

But recently I ended up with AI egg all over my face. My SAPC co-founder, Jamie Smith, who is older than me by a generation and twice as open to new technology than me recently posted the results of his AI search on 'Park Smith', a collector / dealer / PR consultant / market commission agent actve in the Strand / Somerwest West / Dynamite Factory area in the 1930s. Jamie's use of ChatGPT, an AI app, found a new clue to Park Smith's activities in an old photo which he posted as a link. I did not see this and unkindly wrote that his lengthy post was rather "unhelpful". It was not! I now take all that back. Jamie's AI excellent research has added to our knowledge of Park Smith. See: https://southafricanphilatelyclub.com/forum/topic/park-smith-co?part=1

I still have reservations about the long-term consequences of AI. There are some obviously good things that it can do for us on an everyday practical level already. Long may this continue. As in all things, one needs to balance both the claims made by AI's prophets and disciples for its benefits with the warnings coming from its wary and sometimes fearful detractors. One of the first philatelic bodies to extol the virtues of AI that crossed my rader was Droege Computing, the author of Stamp Auction Network. About a year ago it sent out a press release announcing 'Phil', the first ChatBot for Philately, an AI powered philatelic assistant which would, it was loosely claimed, reinvigorate philately by creating new young tech-savvy collectors. So far, I do not see any sign of that having happened.

So, being a subsersive sort, I decided to ask Google's AI: "Can AI save Philately?"

The answer came back strongly in the affirmative. (The strength of certainty in its own worth would be called arrogance in humans!)

Yes, AI can significantly contribute to saving, or at least revitalizing, philately by making it more accessible, engaging, and secure. AI-powered tools are enhancing stamp identification, organization, research, and even design, potentially attracting new enthusiasts and making the hobby more appealing to a wider audience.

Here are the areas where AI sees itself impacting philately:

1. Stamp Identification:

AI-powered apps like the one developed by the Universal Postal Union* allow users to instantly identify stamps using their smartphone camera by scanning them.

These apps leverage large, certified stamp databases, like the WADP Numbering System (WNS), to provide accurate and verified information about the stamp. This feature is particularly helpful for collectors who encounter mystery finds or need to quickly identify stamps for cataloging or research purposes.

2. Enhancing Organization and Research:

Stamp catalogue apps with AI features help collectors organize their collections, track duplicates, and discover new issues. AI can assist in researching the history, origin, and value of stamps, making the hobby more informative and engaging.

3. Facilitating Online Marketplaces and Exhibitions:

AI-powered tools enhance online marketplaces by helping collectors identify and authenticate stamps. Virtual stamp exhibitions, made possible by digital technology, offer accessibility to a wider audience and promote philately to a new generation.

4. Combating Counterfeiting:

AI-powered identification tools play a crucial role in detecting counterfeit stamps, protecting collectors and the market from fraud. The ability to quickly verify the authenticity of stamps is vital for maintaining the integrity of the hobby.

5. New avenues for creativity:

AI is being used to generate new stamp designs, pushing the boundaries of traditional philatelic art. For example, An Post (the Irish postal service) has experimented with AI-generated stamp issues, blending familiar Irish landscapes with fantastical elements. AI can also be used to enhance existing stamps with augmented reality features, creating interactive and engaging experiences for collectors.

AI is not just a tool for stamp identification and research; it's also transforming the way stamps are designed, collected, and appreciated, potentially revitalizing the hobby for both seasoned collectors and newcomers alike.

I think that this is largely all self-congratulatory hot air. Who among us collectors designs stamps? No.s 3 and 4 offer the same benefit of authentication. Will any of this make young people want to resurrect grandpa's great, grand imperial era hobby? All these 'benefits' do is make the activities of collectors who are unafraid of technology easier and more time-efficient. This not enough to stimulate the mass interest of young people in stamps, fairs and stuffy societies run by old men. Gen Z no longer lives in the age of the stamp or letter from the unwoke empire's colonies that our hobby celebrates. Gen Z opposes politically incorrect relics like us who remember with fondness our youth back then and who are now guilty of collecting and perpetuating a 'bad' past. Most of us older collectors draw inspiration and values from a historic past, one abhorred by Gen Z whose inspiration is future fantasy and science fiction in a post-apocalyptic world.

The combined AI benefits as outlined above represent a niche tool for a small subset of technically-minded collectors in our declining hobby. With the possible exception of on-line Stamp Identification and Enhancing Organization and Research, (ie. not having to access an expensive Stanley Gibbons or Scott catalogue to identify and arrange stamps by issue, etc. ), none of these AI benefits mentioned above - Facilitating Online Marketplaces and Exhibitions, Combating Counterfeiting, New avenues for creativity - have by themselves or collectively the ability to motivate new collectors to join a hobby which is dying because of a lack of fresh blood. AI is not offering the vital infusion of youth and diversity that our hobby needs! All AI is doing is telling a dying hobby that it will save it once others join in. Critically, it is not actually doing anything truly promotional and practical to make this happen!

I collected stamps when I was a boy because my friends did. When they were teenagers and gave it up it up for girls, so did I. When I was 50 I returned to the hobby and have enjoyed it ever since in the company of fellow collectors whose dwindling numbers grow less with every passing month. What we really need now is for AI to create an existential reason that drives the mass conversion of young people to philately. Promising them AI tools to work with in a hobby they do not embrace is not going to improve our predicament.

*

 According to the Universal Postal Union (UPU), it "has launched the new WNS app, making stamp identification easier, faster and more accessible than ever before. With a user-friendly interface and AI-supported image recognition, the application allows users to search and identify stamps registered in the WADP Numbering System (WNS) database".

"The app, available for iOS and Android, grants access to nearly 120,000 officially issued stamps from nearly 200 UPU member countries and territories. As the only global stamp database based entirely on official data submitted by issuers themselves, the WNS plays a crucial role in protecting collectors and the global multi-billion-dollar philately market from counterfeiting."

“For collectors, the app will be a game changer”, said Benjamin Combes, Manager of the UPU’s Philately Development and Documentary Heritage Programme. “Before, identifying a stamp could be a time-consuming process involving catalogues and research. Now, with a simple scan, users receive detailed, verified information within seconds.”

In addition to providing immediate access to stamp data, the app protects user privacy by not requiring an account and not collecting personal data. Upcoming updates will introduce features such as social media sharing and real-time market value indicators. The UPU also plans to expand language support to reach a truly global audience.

The app’s development has led to broader enhancements of the WNS database. New metadata fields, including printing techniques, artists, engravers and issue quantities, are being added to enrich the collector's experience. The UPU is also addressing historical gaps by allowing Posts to pre-register stamps issued between 1840 and 2001 via a dedicated platform.

By bridging tradition with innovation, the WNS not only empowers collectors worldwide but also helps postal operators to connect with international markets and promote philately among younger generations".

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a United Nations specialized agency with its headquarters in the Swiss capital, Berne. Founded in 1874, the UPU marked its 150th anniversary in 2024. It is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players and helps to ensure a truly universal network of modern postal products and services.