Future of Museums Summit 2024 Key Takeaways — AMT Lab @ CMU
Sustainability and AI were key topics at the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Future of Museums Summit 2024. The keynote speaker, Rob Hopkins, shared a vision of the future where cities become more environmentally friendly, and energy comes from renewables. Hopkins highlighted the importance of museums in inspiring hope and longing for a better future, emphasizing that actions taken in the present can shape what is to come. Quoting Willian Gibson, Hopkins reinforced that the future is already present in some countries, like Belgium, and museums can play a crucial role in bridging the gap to this future.
AI Adolescence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, moving from classification to generative capabilities. Despite its advancements, AI still requires human guidance and discipline to function effectively. The role of AI is to amplify and augment human efforts, rather than replace them. Museums and the cultural sector must adapt to this new technology to stay relevant and continue inspiring visitors towards the future.
Ways Museums are Using AI
Museums are leveraging AI in various ways, such as improving accessibility for visually impaired visitors, analyzing visitor feedback, and generating creative content like titles and dialogue. AI also supports neurodivergent staff by providing additional communication resources, allowing them to focus on their creative strengths. Identifying potential challenges and pitfalls through AI simulations can help museums enhance visitor experiences and optimize operations.
What to Look for When Using AI
When incorporating AI, organizations should focus on prompt engineering and enhancing prompts to guide AI reasoning effectively. Understanding how AI aligns with the institution's mission, providing necessary training for staff, and setting clear boundaries on AI usage are crucial steps for successful integration. Engaging with AI should aim to assist staff rather than replace them, emphasizing collaboration and enhancement of human capabilities.
Museums and Health
Technological advancements and societal changes have impacted human health, with increased stress and feelings of loneliness prevalent in today's digital age. Museums excel in fostering social connections and community well-being, offering arts-based programs that contribute to individual and collective health. Collaborative efforts between museums and healthcare providers, like the initiative in Charlotte, North Carolina, demonstrate the positive impact of arts on promoting health and combating loneliness.
Tagged: Museums, AI, Sustainability, future
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Arts Management & Technology Laboratory
Carnegie Mellon University, John C. Heinz College III
4800 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
