The National Geographic Society and Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a joint effort on March 30, 2026, to centralize the Society’s media archives on a new cloud-based platform. The partnership focuses on migrating nearly 15 petabytes of historical content — ranging from deep-sea footage to archaeological records — into a customized media platform built on AWS Cloud.
The initiative will unify the Society’s multi-source archives into a single “living library” hosted on AWS. Billions of assets will be preserved and made searchable in real-time by production teams. Currently, the Society generates an estimated two petabytes of new video annually — equivalent to approximately 100 days of 4K footage — from programs including the Impact Story Lab, National Geographic Pristine Seas, and National Geographic Live.
National Geographic Society Moves 138-Year Archive to AWS Cloud
The migration will consolidate assets into a system built on AWS, creating a centralized foundation for one of the most extensive archives of science and exploration in the world. The initiative will protect records spanning historic maps to iconic photography. Jason Southern, chief technology and information officer at the National Geographic Society, described the scope of the effort.
“This initiative is the first step in a multi-year journey where the Society will leverage AWS infrastructure and services to centralize the production and preservation of its media assets. Production teams will be able to quickly discover, access and re-use existing media to create impactful stories about the work our Explorers undertake to study our world.”
Jason Southern, Chief Technology and Information Officer, National Geographic Society
AI-Powered Tools to Accelerate Content Discovery
The high-performance media platform uses Amazon Bedrock and additional AWS services to activate the Society’s media archives. Artificial intelligence tools will assist in transcribing footage, creating metadata, and identifying key figures within the archive. These capabilities address the technical complexities of the Society’s holdings, allowing production teams to surface existing content and transform it into new stories.
Moreover, the platform will enable National Geographic production teams to collaborate on video editing and asset management in real-time. This is expected to significantly shorten the time required to move a story from the field to the public. The cloud computing infrastructure underpinning the platform is designed to scale alongside the Society’s growing annual output.
AWS Managing Director Comments on the Partnership
Rick Buettner, managing director of global nonprofits at AWS, stated the company’s position on the collaboration.
“For over 138 years, the National Geographic Society has documented the wonders of our world, from the ocean floor to the highest peaks, capturing history, inspiring explorers of every age, and building a legacy that is truly irreplaceable. AWS is proud to partner with the Society to ensure every asset becomes an enduring resource as we safeguard the past while powering the next generation of discovery.”
Rick Buettner, Managing Director of Global Nonprofits, AWS
Platform Features and Future Outlook
The new platform delivers three core capabilities for the Society’s production operations. Each capability addresses a distinct challenge in managing one of the world’s largest science and exploration archives.
- Centralized Digital Core: Assets from across the Society’s programs will be consolidated into a single AWS-hosted system, protecting records of planetary history.
- AI-Powered Discovery: Generative AI tools will handle transcription, metadata creation, and figure identification across billions of archived assets.
- Modernized Storytelling: Real-time collaboration tools will enable faster video editing and asset management for production teams globally.
The National Geographic Society, founded in 1888, has provided more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents and reaches three million students annually through its education programs. The AWS partnership represents a significant step in the Society’s long-term digital transformation strategy, ensuring its archives remain accessible and actionable for future generations of researchers and storytellers.
