Will AI replace Curators?
AI can do 84% of the work Curators do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 5 of their 15 tasks, while 7 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 1 physical task. 2 still need a person.
AI is already doing this5 · 52% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- 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.Mostly automated18% of time
- Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public.Mostly automated10% of time
- Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.Mostly automated10% of time
- Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.Mostly assisted10% of time
- Study, examine, and test acquisitions to authenticate their origin, composition, history, and to assess their current value.Mostly automated5% of time
AI could do this next7 · 32% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases.11% of time
- Design, organize, or conduct tours, workshops, and instructional or educational sessions to acquaint individuals with an institution's facilities and materials.7% of time
- Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.5% of time
- Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations.4% of time
- Schedule events and organize details, including refreshment, entertainment, decorations, and the collection of any fees.2% of time
- Arrange insurance coverage for objects on loan or for special exhibits and recommend changes in coverage for the entire collection.1% of time
- Establish specifications for reproductions and oversee their manufacture or select items from commercially available replica sources.1% of time
Robots can technically do this1 · 4% of time
Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.
- Inspect premises to assess the need for repairs and to ensure that climate and pest control issues are addressed.Robots: structured workplaces4% of time
Still needs a person2 · 12% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.7% of time
- Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.5% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. People in this job already use it heavily. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.
What to do next
- Do the 5 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 7 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 1 physical task robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
- Build on the 2 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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