AI Application to Museum Exhibitions

If you have a smartphone, have used a customer service chat, Googled, or asked Siri something, you have used Artificial Intelligence (AI). What about within the museum physical space?

AI has been a regular part of our day-to-day lives for years. Focusing on museums, last week we introduced our AI in museums series with a review of AI and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). Today we will explore the most influential applications of GenAI thus far and how it is improving the museum visitor’s experience every day.

GenAI and the Improved Museum Experience

GenAI application in the museum’s physical space helps improve accessibility and the overall visitor experience. What used to be expensive or difficult to provide on-demand (e.g., audio tours, translations, tour guides) is now readily available via ubiquitous technology. For today’s post, we will review how GenAI enhances the in-person visitor experience with the following:

• Improved Wayfinding
• Reactive Tour Creation
• On-Demand Accessibility

Improved Wayfinding

Navigating large museum halls can be difficult for anyone, but especially so for those who are blind, have dyslexia, or speak a language other than the language on museum signs and maps.

Wayfinding apps are available for smartphones and provide real-time information to the user, in a way that best suits that person. These apps not only provide directions from A to B, but offer contextual information to help orient the person to the space. These apps make it possible for people to navigate the museum independently and remove much of the stress that can arise when entering an unknown space.

Reactive Tour Creation

Many museums offer docent-led tours and may even offer a few different tour themes. However, just as with a recipe, there are dozens of tours that could be created if all the ingredients are available (i.e., collection items and information) and a GenAI chef (tool) was in place.

With information available via the museum’s Collections Management System (CMS) a visitor can begin their experience by answering a few questions regarding what they’d like to see. Based on that information a tour starting point will be suggested. With each subsequent tour stop the app can react with more information based on what the visitor wishes to explore next. A reactive tour platform crafts a personalized tour for that person, much like “choose your own adventure” books.

On-Demand Accessibility

Accessibility needs can be better met with GenAI tools available. For example, if an in-person tour is provided in spoken English, a GenAI tool could provide real-time sign language, a transcription, translation, and even a description of the visuals. Without GenAI, each of these on their own would take time to craft and wouldn’t be available in a real-time setting. GenAI makes it possible to provide an inclusive and accessible experience for a broader community.

Conclusion

With tool and technology improvement, affordable and easy-to-use GenAI tools will become even easier for museums to share bilaterally with their visitors. Each of these GenAI-supported experiences help make the museum’s physical space and collections easier to enjoy for everyone. These experiences each contribute toward improved engagement and encourage repeat visits, which benefits all involved.

Next week we’ll continue our coverage of AI in museums with a post that explores how GenAI tools can be used to enhance online collection search and discovery.

Additional Reading

• Ask Me Anything (AMA): The Impact of AI on CMS Data Creation and Enhancement
• Museum Forecast 2024
• Museum TrendsWatch 2024: AI Adolescence in Museums