As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries worldwide, the museum sector is no exception. Several thought-provoking sessions at this year’s conference will explore the multifaceted role of AI in museums. These four presentations offer valuable insights into how this transformative technology is impacting the cultural space:
1. Algorithms & Artifacts: Deciphering AI’s Role in Museums
Jessica Herczeg-Konecny, Lead Technical Analyst, Digital Asset Management, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Jonathan Munar, Arts, Bloomberg Philanthropies
Uma Nair, Organizational Strategy Consultant, The Strategic Museum
Crucial ethical and practical considerations of integrating AI into museum operations will be tackled in this 45-minute presentation. An overview of AI technology will pave the way for discussion of opportunities, challenges, and ethical concerns related to data privacy and bias.
2. Innovating Access: Experiential Learning at the Crossroads of Art and AI Technology
Miloslava Hruba, Study Room Manager and European Print Specialist, Mead Art Museum, Amherst College
When Mead Art Museum at Amherst College utilized ChatGPT 4 to create audio descriptions for its online collection, it enhanced accessibility for visually impaired visitors. The case study demonstrates how AI can be leveraged in museum collections to improve accessibility, while students can add human oversight to AI-generated content.
3. AI for Breakthrough Visitor Insights: Practical Applications Now While Envisioning the Future
Paula Lynn, Head of Planning and Evaluation, National Gallery of Art
Samantha Niese, Program Manager, Visitor Experience, National Gallery of Art
Keith Krut, Manager, Analytics & Enterprise Architecture, National Gallery of Art
Adam Purvis, Data Architect, National Gallery of Art
Rachel Wolff, Head of Audience Development, National Gallery of Art
Julia Demarest, Data Scientist, National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art piloted AI and machine learning initiatives with cross-functional teams over a period of 18 months. This 45-minute presentation will demonstrate how these projects unlocked new insights from qualitative data and historical attendance information, highlighting their impact on decision making and inviting collaboration for further development of data-driven practices across museums.
4. Expanding ARCH: Advancing Computational Research with Museum Collections
Karl Blumenthal, Senior Web Archivist, Internet Archive
This session showcases the Internet Archive’s efforts to enhance a web-based computational research platform for museums through ARCH. ARCH aims to streamline the use of AI and machine learning techniques in analyzing museum collections, offering features like speech-to-text conversion, artwork color analysis, and text transcription from photographs.
Don’t miss out on these sessions and many more at MCN 2024, October 22–24 in Lawrence, KS!