Curatorial Judgment Recorder
CJR is an AI tool I developed to offer an additional way to document and understand people’s voices in exhibitions. In Punched In, CJR was used as a participatory art tool. Participants contributed their own words, which appeared on a shared screen and became part of the exhibition. I see their contributions as cultural voices that bring different experiences and perspectives into the space.
Participants’ words displayed through CJR in Punched In. Each contribution became part of the exhibition for others to view.
From April 13–17, 72 people contributed through CJR in Punched In. Their words appeared on a shared screen and became part of the exhibition.
Instructions were displayed alongside CJR to guide participants through contributing their words to the exhibition.
Participants scan the QR code to open this form and contribute their own words. Their responses appear on the exhibition screen.
Participants receive a digital souvenir image shown only to them. AI responds to their words using a prompt I wrote to notice what they shared and respond gently, as a kind friend might. I wanted participants to feel heard and included. The image and AI response are not saved by CJR. Participants can take a screenshot if they want to keep them. A participant shared this screenshot with me. Part of their name is covered by purple bars.
After Punched In, CJR was also used as an AI guestbook at the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures. Twenty responses were collected during a two-hour session on April 28, 2026. Visitors could leave their thoughts as part of their museum visit.
I still have many questions about using AI. Is it helpful? Is it harmful? In what ways? Does it make sense to think about it in those terms? Is it more complicated, or perhaps simpler, than I think? As AI becomes more widespread, we keep asking one another similar questions. I have not found clear answers, so I am developing and using CJR to find out for myself.