How can artificial intelligence (AI) support museums in digitally unlocking their collections? This question is being addressed by the joint project “AI in Museums”, in which our lab is involved. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) is funding the project, led by Jade University of Applied Sciences Wilhelmshaven/Oldenburg/Elsfleth, with a total of around 2.25 million euros over two years starting January 1, 2026. Other project partners include the German National Library of Science and Technology in Hanover, Leuphana University Lüneburg, and the Common Library Network (VZG).
The goal of the project is to make museum collections accessible through AI. In this way, researchers will in the future be able to access relevant collection objects more efficiently and gain new insights—using intelligent models that can, for example, identify statues or sculptures with the help of metadata such as excavation texts. The AI solutions are based on the latest technologies of large language models.
“By using AI, we are creating completely new opportunities for the scientific research and presentation of museum collections,” explains Prof. Dr. Bela Gipp, head of the research group “Analysis of Scientific Information Resources” at the University of Göttingen. Jan Philip Wahle, project manager at the chair, adds: “With this project, we are developing advanced AI processes that combine machine learning and language processing to automatically analyze museum data, draw intelligent conclusions, and enable completely new scientific analyses.”
The project “AI in Museums” demonstrates how modern technologies can revolutionize access to our cultural heritage. Through intelligent networking of data, support for provenance research, and the development of practical tools for everyday museum work, collections are not only digitally accessible but also made tangible for research, education, and the public.
Press release from the University: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/54088.html?id=7932
Press release from our partners: https://newsroom.jade-hs.de/magazin/wie-ki-die-museen-von-morgen-gestaltet
Göttinger Tageblatt: https://www.goettinger-tageblatt.de/beruf-und-bildung/regional/wie-ki-und-goettinger-forscher-die-geheimen-schaetze-unserer-museen-enthuellen-UD3DDNHXVZAO7CBUJS72IIVXJM.html
