Artlas AI cultural companion expands pilots to major museums

Launched in 2025 by former Google engineer Grace Yao, Artlas is an AI-driven cultural assistant currently being tested at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Dib Bangkok, and the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami. Since its debut in December 2025, it has produced over 25,000 customized audio guides that integrate AI audio support, artwork identification, navigation, and interactive features in more than 20 languages. Yao refers to it as an "AI layer for museum knowledge," providing diverse perspectives on pieces such as Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" (1884-86). Artlas ensures that responses are based on vetted content, allowing museums to oversee it while minimizing data collection and maintaining institutional content control. Yao envisions AI becoming a norm in museum experiences.