Randall Suffolk, director of the High Museum of Art, argues that art museums should let artists lead the integration of artificial intelligence into programming, rather than institutions racing to adopt the technology themselves. He advocates for using AI primarily behind the scenes for organizational efficiency and decision-making, while cautioning against letting AI distract from the direct experience of artworks in galleries.
This matters because Suffolk reframes the AI debate for museums from a technological arms race to a strategic opportunity for institutional reinvention. He suggests that if AI frees up human time, museums must position themselves as essential destinations for that newfound leisure, shifting from passive presenters to active cultural generators. The piece offers a thoughtful, artist-centric vision for how museums can adapt to technological change without losing their core purpose.