Artificial Intelligence is now part of day-to-day practice across the UK heritage sector, from heritage and collections management and research, to visitor experience, and general business operations.  Many organisations are thinking about whether to, how and when to use AI, and how to plan and resource it effectively and ethically.  

This session will focus on innovation in the sector through a case study of Leeds Castle’s Pilgrimage of Love: Eleanor of Castile exhibition, which culminates in the Castle's Chapel with 'An Audience with a Queen', an interactive, environment-aware AI avatar of Eleanor of Castile that responds to visitors in real time. In the session, we will hear how the curatorial, operational and technical elements of the project interact and explore the decisions underpinning the experience. In particular, how openness about limitations, recording and risk supports trust and empowers visitors.

During the session we will consider:

• How heritage organisations are using AI across collections, visitor experience and organisational operations, and what that means for “everyday” heritage practice.
• What transparency needs to look like in visitor-facing AI, including what the system knows, what is and is not recorded, and how uncertainty is handled.
• How to manage the tension between accuracy and conversational ability, including the risks of misinformation and false authority in AI-generated answers.
• How the Heritage sector is engaging with skills, training and confidence gaps
• How authenticity, risk and co-production can be used as practical frameworks for responsible innovation, including community partnership as a strategy for risk mitigation. 

Speaker: Dr Dominique Bouchard, Heritage and Engagement Director, Leeds Castle

Lunch will be provided. Please note dietary requirements during the booking process.