Curation Power Structures in the Age of AI: From Human Curation to AI Curation of the Redistribution of Discourse Power

Abstract

This study aims to explore the redistribution and structural shift of exhibition discourse power driven by technology after AI intervenes in curation. The research method combines theoretical analysis with analyzation of typical AI exhibition cases to observe how artificial intelligence reshapes exhibition narratives, exhibits visibility, and audience participation models in practical operations, and compares different levels of technological intervention to reveal its specific mechanism in curatorial decision-making. The research results show that the introduction of AI not only changes the curatorial process and exhibition logic, but also redefines the curatorial subject, shifting the power from a single curator to a multi-subject network composed of curators, algorithms, and audience data. This study further proposes a structural model of the power flow mechanism of curation in the AI era, presenting the power reconfiguration formed by the interaction between the three. The conclusion points out that AI is driving the dynamic, multicentric, and data-driven characteristics of exhibition discourse, representing a profound change in the curatorial system. However, this case is still limited by the scope of data acquisition and cannot cover all technical scenarios. As AI technology evolves rapidly, the proposed models need to be continuously adjusted and validated.