UNESCO and ICOM Release Global Survey on AI Use in Museums

On September 17, 2026, UNESCO and the International Council of Museums (ICOM) presented the findings of their first global survey on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in museums at the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI) in Riyadh. The survey offers insight into how museums are currently engaging with AI technologies across a variety of activities and highlights both the progress and challenges faced by the sector.

According to the survey, 57% of responding museums are already using AI. The application of AI spans a range of museum functions, with 70% of these institutions employing AI in administration, 62% in communication, 43% in research and documentation, and additional uses in exhibition development and visitor engagement. This demonstrates that AI is being integrated into multiple operational areas within museums.

Despite the growing use of AI, the survey found that adoption is mostly exploratory or led by individual staff members, rather than being implemented across entire institutions. This suggests that while interest in AI is high, comprehensive and coordinated strategies for its use are still lacking in many museums.

A significant governance gap was identified: 55% of museums reported having no internal AI policy, strategy, or guidelines. This lack of formal governance structures indicates that many museums are engaging with AI without clear institutional frameworks to guide their activities.

The survey also revealed that only 17% of museums provide AI training to their staff. This points to a broader issue of limited capacity-building and professional development in the area of AI, which may hinder effective and responsible adoption of these technologies.

Museums participating in the survey identified several key concerns related to AI, including accuracy, copyright and intellectual property, data protection, transparency, and bias. These concerns reflect the complexities and risks associated with integrating AI into museum operations and underscore the need for careful consideration and management.

Respondents called for practical guidance, more training opportunities, stronger data governance, and platforms to share experiences and best practices. The findings from this survey are intended to inform ongoing efforts by UNESCO and other stakeholders to support museums as they evaluate and implement emerging technologies in line with their ethical responsibilities and missions to serve society. UNESCO has stated its commitment to helping museums develop the necessary skills, policies, and ethical frameworks to make informed decisions about AI.