Open Forum

Hi everyone,

How many museums here have got AI policies in place, or decided they don't need one (in favor of data and security policies already in place?).

Would love shareable examples if anyone's comfortable with doing so, or stories for those that have decided not to. 

In the interim, we've published a free template to provide a running start: AI policy template for visitor attractions - Dexibit

Here's the key principles we'd suggest: 

1. Label AI generated content
From exhibition text to marketing copy, acknowledge AI's role and always have a human review before publishing. 

2. Keep human oversight
AI is a co-pilot, not an autopilot. People remain accountable for every decision and output.

3. Protect data (especially commercial and personal)
Accept the reality that staff are likely to use public AI tools. But be tough on the line to never input private data such as sensitive financial, visitor, member or collection information into public AI tools. 

4. Craft mindful prompts
Good prompts consider diversity, representation and accessibility from the start. They should also be appropriate. Treat prompts as if they're visible on the gallery wall​, in that they should represent the culture and uphold the standards of your organization.​ There's a world in which they could be subject to official information requests.

5. Credit sources
If AI surfaces or summarizes material, make sure the original creators are acknowledged (one way to discover this is to just ask in your prompt). 

6. Watch for bias
AI often reflects stereotypes. AI use should consider bias in the training data, prompt and output alike. Stay alert, especially in areas like collections interpretation, marketing imagery or HR.

7. Limit AI in decision making
AI can analyze surveys, ticketing trends or retail data but it should never replace human judgment on strategy, funding or staffing. Remember you're in the drivers seat, aligned to vision and values. 

8. Keep creativity human led
AI can remix what already exists, but it can't invent something truly new. In attractions, creativity is the spark that makes a visitor's experience memorable and that spark should stay firmly human. AI might be a brainstorming partner, but the big ideas, the leaps of imagination, the stories that connect… those should always come from people.

9. Don't overlook the environment
AI isn't impact free. Training and running models takes real energy and every "quick draft" leaves a carbon footprint. A smart policy encourages teams to pause and ask: is AI the best tool for this job? Sometimes the greener, more responsible choice for both budgets and the planet is to use AI sparingly and lean on human creativity.

10. Keep learning and lead with trust
AI evolves faster than any policy. Encourage experimentation, share learnings across teams, and revisit practices often. Policies don't replace good people. Trust your team to use AI wisely when given the right tools and context.