The report was launched on 30 September 2025 during a dedicated side event at UNESCO’s MONDIACULT 2025 conference, where AI was one of the eight central themes. UNESCO underscored the urgency of placing culture at the centre of AI governance, noting that technological developments are advancing faster than existing cultural policy frameworks.
Drawing on extensive expert consultation, the report explores seven thematic areas, from cultural value chains and education to cultural sovereignty. It stresses that AI is already reshaping how cultures are produced, shared and consumed, raising concerns about rights, representation and equity.
To address these challenges, the report identifies three imperatives for ethical and culturally responsible AI:
- Rights and integrity – AI systems must respect cultural sovereignty and safeguard the work and rights of creators.
- Pluralism and equitable economies – Algorithmic homogenisation and platform dominance must be countered to protect cultural diversity.
- Sustainable and resilient cultural futures – Human creative agency must remain central, and exploitative uses of cultural or artistic content must be prevented.
The expert group calls on UNESCO Member States to integrate culture into national AI strategies, foster transnational cooperation to bridge digital divides, and invest in cultural‑AI literacy that combines technical skills with critical, creative understanding.
NEMO’s 2026 conference will continue the conversation
The questions raised in the CULTAI report resonate with the European museum field. NEMO will explore these issues further at the NEMO European Museum Conference 2026: Human after all - Museums in the wake of AI, taking place from 11–13 October 2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The conference will examine how AI, cybersecurity and rapid societal change are reshaping museums - from workflows and institutional cultures to public trust and democratic responsibility.
Sessions will address how museums can remain people‑centred while adapting to technological transformation, how institutions can manage emerging risks, and how they can foster digital and AI literacy among communities.
Registration opens in June 2026. Sign up for a reminder.
