The curatorial voice in the age of AI

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM Fri, 06 Nov

Short description

AI has long been part of the museum experience. Around a third of visitors are already using it, although they still place more trust in the museum itself than in AI. This talk explores how museums are responding to this demand whilst maintaining their curatorial voice, avoiding misinformation and learning from visitors.

Description

Around a third of visitors used AI assistants such as ChatGPT to access museum content last year; during their most recent visit, more people turned to AI than to audio guides. It is striking that they continue to trust the museum more than the AI. They turn to AI nonetheless because it provides the simpler answer at the moment they ask their question. For museums, this presents a concrete opportunity. Those that make their own content as accessible as a chatbot become the very answer visitors are seeking and remain the source they trust most anyway.

Drawing on Musa’s study ‘State of AI in Museums 2026’ and experiences from international projects, the talk demonstrates how museums can meet this demand without relinquishing control over their content. The aim is to bring the museum’s curatorial voice to life, prevent misinformation and view visitors’ questions as a valuable source from which a museum can learn about its audience.

Notice

The program in the EXHIBITOR-FORUM will be translated into English or German by Video.Taxi AI. You have two options to follow the translation on site:

1. transcribed translation on your cell phone:
You can access the automatic translation in text form directly on your smartphone via the Video.Taxi website. If you have headphones, you can also follow the translation via them.

2. Translation via headset (beta version):
Headsets are available for translation as sound. Please contact our colleague at the headset issue desk.

Speaker

Information about the program

Event Location

EXHIBITOR-FORUM  (4, G10)

Exhibitors