Description
BC-1 (AVICOM) - Digital Transformation in Cultural Heritage: Leveraging Data, AI, and Digital Toolsavigating AI Adoption in Museums: Tailored Ethical Frameworks and Education
Models for Sustainable Digital Transformation
Abstract Content: This paper examines the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within digital
museums, discussing recent institutional responses to AI such as the Smithsonian’s
Museum’s AI Statement and NEMO’s recommendations at ENCATC. Rather than
treating ethical concerns and skills development as uniform challenges, this paper
highlights the diverse operational contexts within museums’ digital domains that
require tailored AI adaptation strategies and ethical considerations, including the
“Black Box” problem—AI’s inherent opacity—which complicates institutional
transparency and accountability. Effective AI adoption hinges on agile upskilling
informed by ethical and legal frameworks, aligning with NEMO’s call for flexible
capacity building. However, rapid technological change exposes a sector-wide lack of
readiness and institutional strategies for sustainable AI integration and education.
Drawing on recent data-driven analyses of AI projects in digital museums, the paper
proposes upskilling strategies, by presenting three contrasting educational models
developed by the School of Art History and Museum Studies at the University of St
Andrews:
Navigating AI in the GLAM Sector — a short course introducing museum
professionals to ethical AI principles, focusing on AI-powered meta-applications.
Digital Art History MLitt Programme — a postgraduate program combining critical
theory and hands-on machine learning study to deepen AI integration in museum
practice.
Building Communities through Digital Heritage Preservation in Times of Crisis — an
open-access international course using participatory digital tools and AI- to engage
communities in preserving heritage at crisis.
These models offer scalable strategies for upskilling current museum staff and
preparing future experts, emphasising interdisciplinary AI literacy and ethical
reflexivity while critically engaging with existing legislation such as GDPR and the AI
Act. The paper argues that such approaches are vital for sustaining trust in the ethical
production and dissemination of trust-worthy audiovisual content, enabling the
museum sector to lead AI-driven change rather than be led by it.
| Period | 11 Nov 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | ICOM 27th General Conference : The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Dubai, United Arab EmiratesShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |