Hello and welcome to the Digital Snapshot, bringing you all the latest digital news, inspiration, tips and guidance for the arts, culture, museums and heritage world.
'Ello. Don't mind me, just here to deliver your monthly dose of digital news for the arts and culture sector. Some really interesting stuff in this month's issue and I even had to trim it down because it got too long. Stand-out piece for me is the discussion and report on AI bots trawling cultural heritage websites and the cost/damage that they're causing. You might be having similar issues?
In other news, we (The Audience Agency) will be at the AMA conference again this year. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it, but my incredibly lovely colleagues Lucy Crowe, Samira Goodwin-Hales, Ben Jeffries, Megan Tripp and Pamela Kent will be there. So go say hey at the very least, but why not go along to the Wednesday welcome drinks that we're co-hosting or book onto one of our FREE 1-2-1 surgery session? They'd love to see you there.
Now, on with the links.
Latest news 📰
- The ongoing dispute between Getty Images and Stability AI is a really useful case to keep an eye on, as it could shape copyright licensing in the AI age, as well as inform reforms to UK copyright law.
- Microsoft recently announced up to 9,000 job cuts as it invests in AI. An Xbox Executive Producer gave some somewhat insensitive advice to those affected by the job losses.
- Super useful LinkedIn post by Tech Champion Nicola Barratt, covering the recent news that Instagram posts will be featured in Google Search results from this month.
- Researchers from the University of Cambridge have warned that there are significant weaknesses in the tools protecting artists' work from AI.
Useful / shareable 🤓
- Arts Council England have released a 'Responsible AI Practical Toolkit'. The toolkit is designed to help you take a thoughtful and collaborative approach to building AI policies and practices that match your organisation’s purpose.
- This new report from Glam-e lab on AI bots impact on digital cultural heritage is incredibly timely, particularly in light of a recent long discussion on the Museums Computer Group discussion list about AI bots slowing down and knocking out cultural heritage websites.
- Here's a great report from the British Council on digital cultural heritage, focusing on imaginations, innovation and opportunity.
- Wondering what the optimal lengths for short form video are in 2025? This resource from Dan Slee has you covered.
Distracting / entertaining / interesting 💥
- There's been some interesting discussions on the use of digital for placemaking on the Museum Computer Group discussion list. My colleague Cara Pickering shared this really nice example by the Highlands & Islands Museums on Smartify.
- This is a very interesting project from the British Museum and the Alan Turing Institute, looking to use AI to analyse and understand visitors' behaviour and feedback.
- A recent study by Historic Houses has found that engaging with contested histories is ‘non-negotiable’ for Gen-Z.
- Here's a useful cautionary tale on the recent hack and hijack of Houston Museum of Natural Science's Instagram account.
Something good 👍
- Pretty bloody cool that the Museum of English Rural Life's new podcast 'Absolute Units' was a Radio Times' pick of best audio on demand.
And that’s all for this edition.
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You can find all past editions of the Digital Snapshot here.
The Audience Agency
