Do Museums Dream of AI?

ID: WMA2026_562

Track:

AI is in the building. The hype would have you believe it is authoritative, efficient, and transformative. Is it?    This panel takes a clear-eyed look at AI “behind the mask,” examining how these systems actually function and where they fall short. From bias and inconsistency to hidden labor and false authority, to ethics and governance, AI tools present both opportunities and risks that museums must understand.    Rather than advocating for or against AI, this session offers an honest, grounded discussion of its realities, alongside practical considerations for governance, transparency, ethics, governance, and responsible use. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to evaluate AI in alignment with museum values of trust, stewardship, and public service. 

Session Information

Format: Regular session/panel (roundtable, single speaker, etc.)

Uniqueness: This session moves beyond AI hype to critically examine its realities, offering museums practical frameworks for ethical, transparent, and values-aligned adoption and governance.

Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 

1. Evaluate AI tools and outputs by understanding how generative AI systems function, including their limitations, biases, and tendencies toward inconsistency or false authority. Attendees will gain the confidence to question AI-generated content rather than accept it at face value.  
2. Identify risks and ethical considerations associated with AI use in museum contexts, including issues of bias, representation, intellectual labor, transparency, and governance. Participants will be better equipped to assess where AI use may conflict with institutional values or public trust.  
3. Apply practical frameworks for responsible AI use including when to use (or not use) AI, what kinds of oversight and disclosure are appropriate, and how to begin developing internal policies or guidelines. Attendees will leave with actions to support informed, values-aligned decision-making around AI adoption.  

Overall, this session aims to move participants beyond hype or fear toward a grounded, informed understanding of AI, empowering them to make thoughtful, mission-aligned, and values-based decisions.

Engagement: Audience participation will be encouraged through a brief opening survey to gauge current AI use and perceptions, helping tailor the discussion in real time. A moderated Q&A will provide space for attendees to raise specific challenges and scenarios from their institutions, fostering peer learning and dialogue.

Relationship to Theme:

Audience

Audiences: Other 

Professional Level: All levels 

Scalability:

The outcomes of this session are designed to be applicable across museums of all sizes, disciplines, and resource levels because they focus on decision-making frameworks rather than specific tools or technologies. 

For smaller organizations, the session offers guidance on when not to adopt AI, how to evaluate low-risk use cases, and how to establish lightweight oversight practices. For mid-sized and larger institutions, the discussion will support more complex needs, such as developing internal policies, cross-departmental governance, and vendor evaluation strategies. 

The inclusion of audience polling and Q&A will ensure that diverse perspectives and use cases are surfaced during the session, allowing participants to learn from peers across institutional types. 

Participants