Getting AquAInted – Our Workshops at “The AI Shift”
Our 48th IATM Conference gives you the chance to learn more about AI or dive deep into its application. Eight workshops take on varying matters around AI and museums and are suitable for different entry levels. In this article, we give you a brief overview.
Following the tour through the Museum for Communication Frankfurt’s Collection Centre on 14 September, the first full conference day on 15 September 2025 offers two workshop sessions. The first one looks at Worries, risks and legal questions on using AI while the second session focuses on the practical application of AI.
Brave new world? Worries, risks and legal questions on AI
In the first session, the four workshops put different emphasis on legal aspects and responding to challenges posed by AI.
Dr. Meredith Greiling, Acting Keeper of Science and Technology at National Museums Scotland, will explore and discuss Creative Commons Licenses and AI. How do we deal with copyright in the “age of Artificial Intelligence”? How do we balance accessible knowledge and trustworthy museums?
Very much related to this is our workshop “Trustworthy AI”. It focuses on the “fact or fake”-dilemma of AI. While there are obvious reasons to fact-check AI on the one hand, especially museums can provide resources for text- and data-mining to build and use AI as a valuable tool on the other. If you are also takling this matter, join the workshop and exchange on different approaches.
Frank Meister, explores how applied machine learning and AI can help maintain visibility in tourism. While the Head of Digital and IT at Berlin’s Tourism Agency “Visit Berlin” also critically addresses its risks and limitations. He calls for transformation in the institutions and wants to explore how you can shape this process at your institution. So: “How Do We Stay Visible in the AI World?”
There’s guidelines for exhibition texts, for creating collection records, for planning events or designing strategies. But what about applying AI?
Tuuli Ahlholm, Digital Heritage Expert at the Finnish Postal Museum asks, answers and discusses this question.
She presents the AI guidelines recently developed at the Finnish Museum of Games. It is about balancing generative AI use with ethical, environmental, and creative concerns. “Navigating the AI Shift – Drafting Ethical AI Guidelines for Museums” enables you to stay both critical and curious about the technology.
I’m Your Man. Opportunities of applying AI
The workshops during our second session feature examples of AI’s application at museums. They also explore its relation to the vision and mission of our museums.
In “Making Sense of the Machine: Why Explainable AI Matters for Museums” you get to dive into questions of transparency in AI systems and how explainable AI aligns with museums’ roles in education, accountability, and trust. Matthias Stier, Department Head of Digital Strategy at the German Museum of Technology asks and together with you explores: “Can we understand how AI systems work – and explain them to others?”
In autumn 2024, the Swiss Museum of Transport, embarked on a pilot-project to innovate the visitor experience. Visitors engaged in real-time conversations with digital avatars on a highlight of the museum: the DS Rigi – the world’s oldest preserved side-wheel paddle steamer. The exchanges varied greatly in length and depth, and showed the value of adaptable, dynamic, interactive learning environments. During the workshop, Martin Ettlinger, Chief Business Development and Market Officer, will share insights into the project, its findings, and help identify the implications for your institution.
Museums are finding more and more applications for Artificial Intelligence. So did the Museum for Communication Frankfurt and ENIGMA – Museum of Communication Denmark. AI as an exhibition theme, support for collection activities, or in education – the range of applications and public interest are telling. In this workshop you will gain playful insights into the range of applications: Together, we will also discuss how to empower visitors to use the technology confidently and how to raise critical awareness of AI applications. “New Realities? Exhibitions and museum programmes – with and about AI” is jointly hosted by Dr Annabelle Hornung, Director, Dr Corinna Engel, Head of Communication & Programme, Nina Voborsky, Team Leader Education at Museum for Communication Frankfurt & Magnus Restofte, Director, ENIGMA – Museum of Communication Denmark.
Dave Thomas will lead the session “Getting started with the best AI use Case”. He will explain strategies to implement effective museum AI projects. Where to start, what to avoid and where to watch but not act. Engage with him through live polling and learn from his examples at the London Transport Museum as well as his experience in AI and climate science, collection metadata, and visitor behaviour.
Getting to work
We are looking forward to welcoming you to “The AI Shift. Transforming Transport and Communication Museums” from 14 to 16 September 2025 in Frankfurt/Main and Mannheim, Germany. Our interactive workshops will help you pave the way for a successful AI application and implementation at your institution.
