Art firms are increasingly experimenting with artificial intelligence, but concrete use cases remain limited and industry-specific tools are still in their infancy. A new partnership between Bonhams and tech company ARTDAI aims to apply AI to market analytics, valuation, and specialist research, while companies like Artsy and Artnet are integrating AI capabilities into their platforms. Industry experts, including former Art Basel chief Marc Spiegler, note that the art market's small size has historically discouraged tech development, but AI now makes high-performance tools accessible to smaller businesses.
This matters because strategic AI adoption could give art firms a meaningful competitive edge within five years, particularly in data analysis, artwork discovery, and operational efficiency. The technology is already being used for personalized buyer recommendations and content optimization for AI chatbots. However, the industry remains cautious after the NFT bust of 2022, and widespread adoption depends on building trust in a relationship-driven market where early experiments have been relegated to the fringes.