🔍 In this episode of Humans of AI, we explore a research project at the Bowes Museum in County Durham that uses AI-powered eye-tracking glasses to study how visitors engage with artworks. A multidisciplinary team combines digital humanities, psychology, art history, and computer science to understand where people look, how long they spend with paintings, and the impact of exhibition labels.
The episode highlights key findings—such as how briefly most visitors view artworks—and reflects on the ethical limits of AI, the difference between observing behavior and understanding motivation, and the importance of using AI thoughtfully in cultural heritage and beyond.
📌 HoAI Highlights
⏲️[
18:51] The Takeaway
The Spark🗣️“The management at the Bowes were concerned that perhaps this is overwhelming for visitors… do we know that visitors are actually enjoying themselves?”
The Impact
🗣️ “It was horrifying to me how very quickly most people look at things in museums… it’s like 10 seconds, 15 seconds sometimes per painting.”
The Challenge
🗣️ “It is very, very important this is done ethically… because people know they’re being observed, it may change their behavior.”
The Future
🗣️“If we can’t compete in AI, we have no role in regulating what is going on in those organizations.”
The Takeaway
🗣️ “AI is not a terrible thing or a wonderful thing—we need to think about how we use it, where we use it, and where it’s most appropriate.”
📌 About Our Guests
Claire Warwick | Museum Goggles
🌐
linkedin.com/in/claire-warwick-1951272b6 The Bowes Museum “goggles” project used AI-powered eye-tracking glasses to study how visitors view paintings and labels. The research showed that most people look at artworks very quickly, but engaging with labels increases viewing time and enjoyment. The project highlights how AI can analyze behavior at scale while also raising ethical questions and showing its limits in understanding why people do what they do.
#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #GenerativeAI
What is Humans of AI by information labs?
In Humans of AI, information labs brings to life the intersection of artificial intelligence and cultural heritage.
Across a series of punchy, story-driven video capsules, we meet the projects and people who are redefining how we read, remember, and reimagine our shared memory.
This isn’t AI as hype — it’s AI as heritage in motion.