Contemporary Art and Biodiversity. The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Art Museum Collections

This chapter explores the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing biodiversity awareness through contemporary art in Australian museums by examining how AI can revolutionize the interpretation and presentation of biodiversity themes within art collections. Drawing on interviews with curators from institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia and the National Museum of Australia, the study highlights how AI facilitates new interpretative frameworks that merge ecological and artistic narratives. By integrating insights from curators, this chapter examines the challenges and opportunities of AI technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in museum practices, emphasizing their potential to foster deeper visitor engagement and interdisciplinary collaborations. It makes a unique contribution to the field by offering a comparative perspective on AI applications, including generating personalized narratives, visualizing complex ecological data, and creating immersive environments that address pressing issues such as species extinction, habitat destruction, and climate change. These innovations align with museums' dual roles as cultural custodians and educators on sustainability.