Unmasking New Perspectives: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Rewriting Art Histories

In the context of the Quadruple Helix framework, which emphasizes collaboration between academia, industry, government, and civil society, this study examines how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can transform the discipline of art history. It explores the evolving role of AI tools, such as machine learning and computer vision, in analyzing, interpreting, and rewriting global and African art histories. Although AI has been extensively applied in Western institutions, this study emphasizes the need to reframe art historical narratives by including African perspectives, indigenous knowledge systems, and fragmented visual archives. Through case studies such as Google Arts and Culture, the “Digital Benin” project, and AI-driven connoisseurship initiatives, this study investigates both the potential and ethical concerns surrounding algorithmic bias, cultural misrepresentation, and digital colonialism. It argues for a collaborative, inclusive, and critically conscious approach to AI deployment in education and research, proposing that Africa’s participation should not merely fill a data gap, but also serve as a site for epistemic innovation. Aligning with the Quadruple Helix framework, this study calls for interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral engagement that promotes cultural equity, technological innovation, and academic transformation in art historical discourse.