The workshop forms part of the Commission’s preparations for its forthcoming Apply AI Strategy, which aims to foster the responsible and innovative adoption of AI across Europe’s industrial ecosystems and contribute to building a 'European AI Continent'.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from across the cultural and creative sectors to:
- Share real-world examples and use cases of AI implementation.
- Assess the impact, scalability and enablers of successful AI adoption.
- Discuss ongoing challenges in developing, deploying, and embracing AI tools in the sector.
Representing the European museum community, NEMO's Secretary General Julia Pagel addressed both the concerns museums have about AI, and the potential they see in its use. She drew on insights from NEMO's 2024 international conference Innovation and Integrity: Museums paving the way in an AI-driven society, held in Brussels.
Key concerns raised by NEMO included:
- Data Privacy: Ensuring the protection of visitor data and maintaining transparency in its usage is paramount.
- Bias and Representation: AI systems may perpetuate existing biases present in training data, necessitating rigorous evaluation to prevent reinforcing stereotypes.
- Impact on Employment: The automation of tasks traditionally performed by museum staff raises concerns about job displacement and the need for reskilling.
At the same time, NEMO highlighted the promising opportunities AI presents for museums, such as:
- Enhanced Visitor Engagement: AI can create personalized and interactive experiences, making exhibits more engaging and accessible.
- Efficient Collections Management: Automating cataloguing and analysis can streamline operations and uncover new insights within collections.
- Innovative Educational Tools: AI-driven applications can offer novel educational resources, enriching learning opportunities for diverse audiences.
NEMO also brought forward its three key recommendations to policy makers at national and European level, which were developed in connection to the 2024 conference.
- A political vision for museums and cultural heritage in an AI-driven society
Recognising the unique position of museums and cultural heritage as pillars of trust within society, it is imperative to integrate them into a regulatory framework. Artificial intelligence in museums needs to be addressed and shaped so that technological developments do not simply reshape museums from the outside. Collaborative efforts between governments, regulatory bodies, and museum professionals can ensure that museums play a pivotal role in the development of ethical practices related to emerging technologies. - Financial investments to apply AI successfully in the Public Cultural Domain
Financial resources must be allocated for infrastructure, equipment and highly qualified human resources, enhancing museums’ professional capacities.AI needs to source high-quality, interoperable data and properly described metadata. Copyright issues must be resolved. Museum professionals need adequate skills to perform these tasks, to keep pace with rapidly evolving AI capabilities and to address sector-specific concerns. Furthermore, standing commitments to support the cultural heritage sector should be expanded to ensure the quality and quantity of digitalisation required by Cultural Heritage Data Spaces and the European Collaborative Cultural Heritage Cloud. - Establishment of a European AI innovation hub for cultural heritage
To foster creativity, innovation and collaboration, to centralise expertise and knowledge and to face challenges for the sector associated with AI, there is a need for a dedicated competency centre in Europe. This space would serve as a hub to bring together expertise and practices, knowledge and resources in a network of and for professionals, ensuring digital innovation and development across the diverse European Cultural heritage sector - in alignment with the values of human-centred design, privacy, and open-source practices.
