International Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Museums: A Review on Visitor Experience and Collection Management

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 18 - 37, 10.06.2025

Burak Erkut

Abstract

Rapid advances in digital technologies have significantly reshaped the functions, communication strategies, and content development models of contemporary museums. Among these technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) stands out not only as a technical tool but also as a strategic component in decision-making, personalized content delivery, and cultural interpretation. This review article examines how AI applications contribute to collection management and visitor experience across leading international museums. Structured within the framework of the European Commission’s classification of AI opportunities in cultural and creative sectors, the study explores the roles of computer vision, natural language processing, machine learning, and robotics in museum contexts. Through selected case studies from institutions such as the Harvard Art Museums, Natural History Museum of London, Victoria and Albert Museum, Salvador Dalí Museum, Centre Pompidou, and the Smithsonian Institution, the paper demonstrates how AI technologies support digitization, inventory control, visitor interaction, and personalized museum experiences. The analysis also considers the ethical, technical, and organizational challenges these applications pose. While Turkish examples remain largely absent in current practice, this article aims to offer a comparative foundation for local initiatives by making international practices more visible. It concludes that AI-enhanced museology is emerging as a core element in the construction of inclusive, interactive, and digitally integrated museums of the future.

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence , digital museology , collection management , visitor experience , international museum practices

Uluslararası Müzelerde Yapay Zekâ Uygulamaları: Ziyaretçi Deneyimi ve Koleksiyon Yönetimi Üzerine Bir Derleme

Abstract

Dijital çağın hızla gelişen teknolojileri, müzelerin işlevlerini, izleyiciyle kurduğu iletişimi ve içerik üretim biçimlerini dönüştürmektedir. Bu dönüşümde ön plana çıkan yapay zekâ, yalnızca teknik bir araç değil; aynı zamanda stratejik karar alma, içerik kişiselleştirme ve kültürel değerleri yorumlama süreçlerinde aktif rol oynayan bir teknolojidir. Bu derleme çalışmasında, uluslararası müzelerde yapay zekâ uygulamalarının koleksiyon yönetimi ve ziyaretçi deneyimi alanlarına sunduğu katkılar incelenmiştir. Avrupa Komisyonu’nun kültürel ve yaratıcı sektörler için sunduğu yapay zekâ sınıflandırması çerçevesinde yapılandırılan çalışma; bilgisayarlı görü, doğal dil işleme, makine öğrenimi ve robotik teknolojilerin müzecilikteki işlevlerini örnek uygulamalar üzerinden betimlemektedir. Harvard Sanat Müzeleri, Londra Doğa Tarihi Müzesi, Victoria and Albert Müzesi, Salvador Dalí Müzesi, Centre Pompidou ve Smithsonian Enstitüsü gibi önde gelen kurumlardan alınan örnekler, yapay zekâ teknolojilerinin dijitalleştirme, envanter yönetimi, ziyaretçiyle etkileşim kurma ve deneyimi kişiselleştirme gibi alanlardaki pratik yararlarını ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışma, bu uygulamaların etik, teknik ve kurumsal sınırlarını da göz önünde bulundurarak değerlendirmektedir. Türkiye özelinde yerli örneklerin eksikliği dikkat çekmekte; bu derleme, mevcut uluslararası pratikleri görünür kılarak yerel çalışmalar için karşılaştırmalı bir zemin sunmayı hedeflemektedir. Yapay zekâ destekli müzeciliğin, geleceğin dijital, kapsayıcı ve etkileşimli müze modelinin temel bileşenlerinden biri haline geldiği görülmektedir.

Keywords

Yapay Zekâ , dijital müzecilik , koleksiyon yönetimi , ziyaretçi deneyimi , uluslararası uygulamalar

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