Curators

Curators score 50 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #214 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 15 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 2 on its own and 11 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 5 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

50/ 100

Elevated

Rank: #214of 923 jobs
US workers: 12,150BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $63,420a year
In real AI use: 5 of 15tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 2 (13%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 11 (73%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 2 (13%)

Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Study, examine, and test acquisitions to authenticate their origin, composition, history, and to assess their current value.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Inspect premises to assess the need for repairs and to ensure that climate and pest control issues are addressed.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Design, organize, or conduct tours, workshops, and instructional or educational sessions to acquaint individuals with an institution's facilities and materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Arrange insurance coverage for objects on loan or for special exhibits and recommend changes in coverage for the entire collection.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Schedule events and organize details, including refreshment, entertainment, decorations, and the collection of any fees.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Establish specifications for reproductions and oversee their manufacture or select items from commercially available replica sources.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

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Questions about curators and AI

Will AI replace curators?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Curators score 50 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #214 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 13 of the job's 15 tasks, 2 of them on its own, while 2 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which curators tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases"; "Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials".

Which curators tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances"; "Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 5 of the 15 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as curators, and what do they earn?

About 12,150 people in the US, with median pay of $63,420 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.