ASMD · AI Policy Compass

Where does your museum stand on AI?

A starting point for science-museum directors. See the current landscape, compare the major frameworks, and generate a first-draft AI policy tailored to your institution — then take it to your leadership team to refine.

The current landscape
AI policy n = 48
AAM survey, 2025
21%
have an AI policy in place
56%
do not have an AI policy
23%
don't know whether they do
Source: American Alliance of Museums survey, 2025 (n = 48 respondents). Most institutions are behind their own staff's AI use.
The four frameworks worth knowing
Science centers · NSF-funded

ASTC — Building Public Agency in AI

A typology of 13 distinct roles science centers can play in AI public engagement, across four groups. The most science-museum-specific framework available.

astc.org/ai →
Gold standard · Living doc

Smithsonian — AI Values & Usage

A values statement (since 2022) plus a usage statement with a concrete disclosure formula: content format + role of staff + role of AI. The most-cited precedent in the field.

si.edu/about/ai-use-statement →
Leadership-level

AAM — Ethical AI in Cultural Institutions

Argues AI policy belongs with leadership, not the IT office, and that institutions should form cross-stakeholder AI task forces to set ethics-driven frameworks.

aam-us.org →
Practical toolkit

Museums & AI Network — Planning Toolkit

An ethics workflow of questions to ask before adopting any tool: bias in the data, model transparency, intended/unintended consequences, and impact on the visitor experience.

Reference via AAM →
Policy Builder — your first draft in one click

This is a starting draft generated offline from published-framework patterns — not legal advice. Bring it to your leadership team, legal counsel, and an AI task force before adopting. Built to be edited.