The Growing Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Art Gallery Sector

A recent survey conducted by First Thursday reveals significant adoption of artificial intelligence (A.I.) among art gallery professionals, with 84 percent of the 103 respondents indicating they use A.I. tools. Notably, 40 percent report regular usage. However, a concerning 63 percent of respondents have not received guidance from management regarding A.I. use, and only 8 percent of galleries have established internal policies governing its application. The survey highlights that 80 percent of users access A.I. tools through personal accounts, raising concerns about the potential sharing of sensitive information, including pricing and client data.

New York Observer

The survey indicates that A.I. is predominantly employed for creating and refining press releases, artist biographies, and collector emails, with 78 percent of respondents utilizing it for these purposes. Translation services, both linguistic and tonal, are the most common application. Additionally, A.I. is used for research, account management, and collector research by 33 percent and 30 percent of respondents, respectively. Despite the visual nature of the art industry, only about 25 percent of galleries use image-generation tools like DALL-E and Midjourney. The primary motivation for adopting A.I. appears to be the need to remain competitive in an increasingly complex operational landscape.

New York Observer

While the adoption of A.I. is widespread, gallery professionals express significant concerns regarding its accuracy. Two-thirds of respondents worry about A.I. generating incorrect information about artists or artworks. This concern is particularly pronounced among those who do not regularly use A.I., indicating a gap in confidence between users and non-users. Additionally, larger galleries, which feel the pressure of operational complexity more acutely, report challenges in formally integrating A.I. into their governance structures. Smaller galleries, on the other hand, tend to adopt A.I. more flexibly, often improvising its use without dedicated technology staff.

New York Observer

Despite the challenges, there is a prevailing sense of optimism regarding A.I.'s role in the art world. Approximately 62 percent of respondents believe that the art sector is lagging in technology adoption, and many see more opportunities than threats. A significant portion of gallery professionals, 55 percent, indicates a desire for A.I. tools specifically designed for the art industry rather than generic platforms. Furthermore, 40 percent express excitement about the potential of A.I. to streamline administrative tasks, allowing more time for engagement with artists and collectors.

New York Observer

Callum Hale-Thomson, founder of First Thursday, emphasized the need for gallery owners to recognize the gap between A.I. usage and governance. He stated, “Without proper implementation, sensitive gallery and collector data can be used for A.I. model training, shared with third parties or leaked.” This highlights the urgent need for galleries to establish clear policies and guidelines surrounding A.I. usage.

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• “It’s been over three years since the public release of ChatGPT, and in that time we’ve heard relatively little about how A.I. is being used in the gallery sector,” — Callum Hale-Thomson, Founder of First Thursday

New York Observer

• “Without proper implementation, sensitive gallery and collector data can be used for A.I. model training, shared with third parties or leaked. In an industry built on discretion and trust, the gap between how widely A.I. is being used and how little governance surrounds it should concern everyone.” — Callum Hale-Thomson, Founder of First Thursday

New York Observer

In summary, while the integration of A.I. into the art gallery sector is advancing rapidly, it raises critical issues regarding governance, accuracy, and the need for tailored tools to maximize its benefits.

New York Observer