AI's Influence on Museums and Cultural Sites

Published Date : 03/11/2025 

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way museums and cultural institutions operate. This book, 'AI in Museums', delves into the various applications and ethical considerations of AI in the cultural sector, providing a comprehensive overview of the current landscape. 

Artificial intelligence is changing the ways of work, and the cultural sector is no exception. In order to look at the working areas affected by this change to what extent, and which structural changes may be associated with it, the book 'AI in Museums' presents a collection of papers that revolve around the (potential) use of artificial intelligence in museums and the broader cultural sector.

'AI in Museums', edited by Sonja Thiel and Johannes Bernhardt and published by Transcript in 2024, is based on the conference 'Cultures of Artificial Intelligence: New Perspectives for Museums'. The conference took place at Badisches Landesmuseum in Karlsruhe, Germany, and on the web over two days in December 2022. It emerged from a cooperation with the Allan Pierson Museum Amsterdam and the LINK-Masters funding program of the German Stiftung Niedersachsen on AI in arts and culture. The editors aimed to explore the growing use of AI applications in the cultural sector, a topic that was not yet a mainstream debate at the time.

With around 300 pages that include 26 papers by even more authors, the publication provides space for a wide range of knowledge, thoughts, and opinions. It is divided into three chapters titled Reflections, Perspectives, and Applications, each taking about a third of the publication. Each paper varies in methodical approach, though the three chapters predetermine a certain progression in presenting ideas and information. The last part, Applications, presents specific projects and applications in more detail, including the underlying project questions, execution, and conclusions. Each paper is accompanied by a list of references that discloses the research and helps for further reading.

As Thiel and Bernhardt explain, there was already a growing use of AI applications in 2022, but without a clear overview of these projects or the participants involved. Artificial intelligence had been of interest to contemporary artists for a longer time, with related works of art being presented in cultural institutions, such as Hartware MedienKunstVerein Dortmund's exhibitions 'House of Mirrors: Künstliche Intelligenz als Phantasma' in 2022 and '(Artificial Intelligence) Digitale Demenz' as early as 2015/2016.

Besides these artistic approaches, the majority of museums have discovered AI rather recently. This is not surprising, considering the increased significance of AI for society in recent years and the need for understanding its functioning and ethical implications. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a crucial role, as museums had to present their collections, exhibitions, and associated knowledge primarily in digital formats. This period forced museums to question their approaches, fostering an interaction with digital interfaces and sparking a curiosity for AI.

The book consists of three chapters. Reflections starts with an examination of possible definitions of artificial intelligence and ethical questions regarding its use. The authors show that a single sharp definition is not possible, and that using AI is always connected to some kind of responsibility.

Isabel Hufschmidt’s contribution 'Troubleshoot?' in the chapter Perspectives presents a global mapping of the use of AI in museums in different countries. It gives a glimpse into the possibilities of how artificial intelligence can be used in institutions. Beyond this overview, most of the publication focuses on the application of AI for dealing with visitor data and increasing visitor satisfaction, as well as the use of chatbots. While it is reasonable that the contributions concentrate on areas with a lot of available data, this is also a missed opportunity to show the wider range of existing usages, such as research and collection management. Essays like 'Teaching Provenance to AI' by Fabio Mariani, Lynn Rother, and Max Koss are rare exceptions, outlining a very helpful application for provenance research in more detail.

The third chapter, Applications, offers very specific examples of possible AI applications in museums. The use of images and graphs is very effective in underlining the explanations and points made by the authors. Some papers present interesting examples to make the introduction of applications more tangible, especially for laypeople in the field of AI.

While the title of the book and the three given chapters of 'AI in Museums' suggest a clear structure, the publication is not as plainly structured as it appears initially. Readers might expect articles relating to cultural institutions that collect, preserve, and show material or immaterial artefacts, focusing on values like education and science. However, some papers, like Roland Fischer's 'Imposter Syndrome. GPT-3 between Fact and Fiction', explore topics like AI-generated storytelling without clearly addressing the museum context. Some papers also lack a clear link to the museum field, although they are well-written and informative.

The authors use technical terminology in a self-evident way. Since 'AI in Museums' aims to provide an overview for readers in the cultural sector who may have little knowledge of AI applications and terminology, a glossary could have been useful. While many papers define key terms, others assume a certain level of prior knowledge, making some texts less accessible to beginners. Many of the papers stay on a surface level, which is not necessarily a criticism if the goal is to present an overview. However, the repetition of ideas and critical arguments in the first chapter is regrettable. It would have helped to advise certain subtopics to each author, edit out duplications, or collect them in the introduction as a point of reference.

'AI in Museums' emphasizes that artificial intelligence is a complex field that requires continuous scrutiny. Mercedes Bunz, in her paper 'The Role of Culture in the Intelligence of AI', makes it clear that for museums to make well-founded use of AI, they need to gather the necessary knowledge. AI is not a simple software that can be installed and left to run on its own; it requires significant time and labor for a usable interface. Museums provide an ideal setting for experimenting with both the software and the ethical questions it raises.

'AI in Museums' is recommended for readers seeking a first insight into the current possibilities of AI in museums. With abstracts of each paper, it is very accessible for researchers who need an introduction to ethical and philosophical ideas or a first understanding of applications that help with various tasks, especially visitor management and education. Overall, it is a good starting point for further research. However, with the rapid advancement of AI, the question remains how long such a publication can remain relevant, especially since the often-repetitive ethical debates are covered extensively in other specialist literature, and the discourse and awareness are shifting more towards broader society. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main focus of the book 'AI in Museums'?

A: The book 'AI in Museums' focuses on the potential use of artificial intelligence in museums and the broader cultural sector, exploring various applications and ethical considerations.

Q: Who are the editors of 'AI in Museums'?

A: The book 'AI in Museums' is edited by Sonja Thiel and Johannes Bernhardt.

Q: What are the three main chapters of the book?

A: The book is divided into three main chapters: Reflections, Perspectives, and Applications.

Q: How does the book address the ethical implications of AI in museums?

A: The book explores ethical questions regarding the use of AI in museums, emphasizing the need for responsibility and understanding of AI's potential impacts.

Q: What is the significance of the book in the context of the cultural sector?

A: The book is significant as it provides a comprehensive overview of AI applications in museums, serving as a starting point for further research and practical implementation in the cultural sector. 

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