Cultural heritage conservation education often faces a persistent paradox: the necessity of visualizing high-risk environments—such as compromised storage or disaster zones—versus the strict ethical and security restrictions that limit access to such imagery. When real-world documentation is unavailable due to confidentiality, educators require innovative tools to cultivate professional judgment. This paper proposes AI-generated imagery not as a replacement for material authenticity, but as a scenario-based pedagogical interface that bridges these critical visual gaps. Unlike conventional digital tools, this application is strictly bounded by professional ethics: AI is not employed to simulate microscopic material deterioration or specific restoration procedures, which could lead to epistemic misinformation. Instead, it is utilized to construct macro-environmental scenarios—including emergency responses and complex collection management contexts—to foster situational awareness. Drawing on classroom practice, the study examines learner responses to these constructed environments. Findings indicate that AI-generated scenarios act as a catalyst for active interpretation and exploratory viewing, significantly increasing student engagement compared to static textbook examples. From a posthuman perspective, the AI functions as a "mediating participant" that decentralizes pedagogical authority, encouraging students to negotiate risk and responsibility. The paper concludes that ethically-framed AI imagery provides a transferable model for heritage institutions to enhance visual literacy and professional ethics, offering a safe yet immersive space to navigate the complexities of contemporary conservation without compromising institutional security.

Authors:
Jiuan Jiuan Lin, the Director of Museum Republic for Heritage Technology, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Jiuan-Jiuan Lin is a Taiwan-based conservator and educator, currently serving as the Director of Museum Republic for Heritage Technology Inc.

See this presentation on the full schedule – On Demand Schedule

Bookmark