Will AI replace Curators?

Some of your tasks will be automated. People who use AI will have the edge.

Task exposure to today's AI

48/100

Moderate exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Curators?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 48% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials. The parts that stay human include: Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials.; Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.; Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.AI already used 78%

Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases. 62%

Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public.AI already used 57%

Design, organize, or conduct tours, workshops, and instructional or educational sessions to acquaint individuals with an institution's facilities and materials. 55%

Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.AI already used 50%

Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials.AI already used 45%

+ 9 more tasks (34% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials.
Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.
Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for lesson materialsAI quiz and feedback toolsPresentation and image generators

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

Materials and preparation

Lesson plans, tasks and differentiated materials with AI.
Quizzes and answer keys.
Check facts and age-appropriateness yourself.

Project

Use AI to draft catalog records and exhibit label text for 20 collection items, then fact-check each entry against source documents.

Phase 2

Feedback and assessment

Rubrics and feedback drafts with AI.
Spotting common mistakes across student work.
Rules for student AI use and academic honesty.

Project

Have AI generate a feedback rubric and draft critique for a colleague's grant proposal, then compare it to your own edits and track accuracy.

Phase 3

Teaching with AI

Teach students to use AI critically.
Assignments that work with AI, not against it.
Share materials and practice with colleagues.

Project

Create a workshop teaching 3 fellow curators to use AI for research summaries, and measure hours saved on one shared cataloging task.

Take the free 11-question test