As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms how we work, create, communicate, and make decisions, the MSU Museum invites visitors to consider one of the defining questions of our time: What kind of future do we want to build? 
Opening September 3, 2026, Reality Check brings together artists, researchers, technologists, and students to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping society and influencing our understanding of truth, identity, creativity, and democracy. Through immersive installations and interactive experiences, the exhibition and programs encourage visitors to move beyond the headlines and engage critically with both the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies.
Visitors enter a speculative future where artificial intelligence is deeply embedded in the ways we remember the past, navigate the present, and imagine the future. Some of the technologies and scenarios presented in Reality Check already exist, while others imagine what could come next, encouraging visitors to consider how AI may redefine creativity, memory, identity, and democratic society. As they explore the gallery, visitors take on the role of a “technology auditor,” weighing the opportunities and risks of emerging technologies and considering where they should be embraced, regulated, or rejected.
“As a university museum, we believe one of our most important roles is creating space for thoughtful dialogue around the issues shaping our future,” said Devon Akmon, Director of the MSU Museum. “Reality Check invites visitors to move beyond fear or excitement about artificial intelligence and instead engage with its complexity. By bringing together art, science, technology, and public conversation, the exhibition and programs encourage us to grapple with the tradeoffs of innovation and what it means for our shared values and our communities.”
Developed by the Museum’s CoLab Studio, Reality Check continues the Museum’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of arts, sciences, cultures, and technologies. Selected through an international open call that attracted more than 200 proposals, the exhibition features seven exhibits chosen by a curatorial team of Museum staff, faculty, and students. Together, the works explore how artificial intelligence is changing civic life, creative expression, education, and everyday decision-making while asking visitors to consider the ethical responsibilities that accompany technological advancement.
“As we navigate AI’s impact on our daily lives, it is more important than ever to create opportunities for curiosity, dialogue, and critical thinking,” said Caroline White, CoLab Education and Learning Manager and co-curator. “Reality Check invites visitors to explore, question, and imagine multiple futures together. We hope people leave feeling empowered to participate in conversations about the complex ways technologies shape all of our lives.”
Featured exhibits invite visitors to explore different ways of remembering loved ones, discover how algorithms make assumptions about identity, create music alongside a custom-trained AI model, explore speculative ecosystems where artificial intelligence and biotechnology reshape nature, and even step into a future courtroom where humans stand trial before sentient AI. Together, these immersive experiences encourage visitors to reflect on how emerging technologies are already influencing their lives, and to consider how the choices we make today will shape the future.
Timed to coincide with the United States’ 250th anniversary, Reality Check looks ahead rather than back, examining how emerging technologies are redefining democratic participation, public trust, and national identity. Instead of presenting simple answers, the exhibition challenges visitors to wrestle with questions of authorship, authenticity, human creativity, and the role artificial intelligence should play in shaping society. Ultimately, it asks each visitor to help define what role these technologies should play in the future of our communities and democracy.
Throughout its run, Reality Check will feature public programs, artist talks, workshops, and community conversations that expand upon the exhibition’s themes. Visitors will have opportunities to engage with experts, experiment with new technologies, and participate in discussions about the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on everyday life.
The public is invited to celebrate the opening of Reality Check on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 4:00–7:00 p.m. during a free reception at the MSU Museum.
This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), with additional support provided in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.