UNESCO and ICOM Reveal Global Survey on AI Use in Museums

On 17 September 2026, the findings of the first UNESCO–ICOM Global Survey on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Museums were presented at the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI) in Riyadh. The survey provides a detailed look at how museums worldwide are engaging with AI technologies and the challenges they face in doing so.

According to the survey, 57% of responding museums are already using AI in some capacity. However, despite this significant level of adoption, 55% of these institutions report that they do not have any internal AI policy, strategy, or guidelines in place. This highlights a gap between the use of AI and the establishment of formal governance structures.

The survey also reveals that AI is being used across a growing range of museum activities. Specifically, 70% of museums using AI apply it in administration, 62% in communication, and 43% in research and documentation. AI is also being used in exhibition development and visitor engagement, indicating its expanding role in various museum functions.

Despite the increasing use of AI, the adoption remains largely exploratory or is led by individual staff members rather than being implemented across entire institutions. Only 17% of museums report providing AI training to their staff, which suggests that capacity building and institutional readiness are lagging behind the pace of experimentation with AI technologies.

Museums identified several main concerns related to AI adoption. These include issues of accuracy, copyright and intellectual property, data protection, transparency, and bias. Such concerns underline the need for robust governance and ethical frameworks to guide the responsible use of AI in the museum sector.

Respondents to the survey called for practical guidance, more training opportunities, stronger data governance, and platforms to share experiences and best practices. These requests reflect a desire for support and resources to help museums navigate the complexities of AI integration.

The findings of the survey are intended to inform ongoing efforts to support museums and museum professionals as they evaluate and adopt emerging technologies. According to UNESCO, experimentation with AI is advancing faster than institutional capacity and governance, and the organization will continue to support museums in developing the necessary skills, policies, and ethical frameworks to make informed decisions about AI use in line with their missions to serve society.