Museums embrace AI as the sector builds policies and skills

Artificial intelligence (AI) is steadily becoming part of museum operations worldwide, but institutional policies and capacities are struggling to keep pace, according to the first UNESCO–International Council of Museums (ICOM) Global Survey on the Use of AI in Museums. The findings of the survey, which covered more than 400 museums across 90 countries, were presented at the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI) 2026 in Riyadh on September 17.

The survey found that 57 per cent of responding museums are already using AI, with applications spanning administration, translation, collections research, documentation, exhibition development and visitor engagement. However, 55 per cent of museums reported having no internal AI policy, strategy or guidelines.

The findings indicate that AI adoption across the museum sector remains largely exploratory, with many initiatives being driven by individual staff members or specific teams rather than implemented as institution-wide strategies.

Museums also continue to face challenges related to access, expertise and infrastructure. Differences in digital infrastructure, funding, technical capabilities and access to specialised expertise are creating uneven opportunities for museums to adopt and experiment with AI.

Among the key concerns identified by museums are accuracy, copyright and data protection. Respondents also pointed out the need for greater training and guidance on the technical and ethical use of AI, alongside stronger understanding of data governance and intellectual property rights.

The UNESCO-ICOM report is expected to provide practical and policy guidance for museum professionals and UNESCO Member States. It is in line with UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museum Professionals, and its suggestions for protecting and promoting museums and collections.

The survey findings will also inform future UNESCO capacity-building programmes aimed at helping museums develop the skills, policies and ethical frameworks required for responsible AI adoption.