Cranbrook Institute of Science Hosts ‘Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine’

The Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills will present “Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine,” the first traveling museum exhibition developed by The Relayer Group, a New York-based consulting and development firm specializing in AI.

The public, hands-on experience will run from Sept. 27 to May 9, 2027, and will focus on the reality and relevance of artificial intelligence.

In the exhibit, visitors can explore what “smart machines” are and how they work. They also will learn the concept of man-made intelligence.

“Artificial Intelligence has become ubiquitous in our daily lives,” says Lucy Hale, The Susan Flint Cooper Director of Cranbrook Institute of Science. “This exhibit invites visitors to explore AI through hands-on experiences that are both engaging and approachable.

“We’re excited to bring this timely exhibit to Cranbrook and provide families, students, and lifelong learners with an opportunity to better understand one of today’s most important technologies so they can make informed choices about how and when to use AI and Generative AI.”

Among the 30 hands-on interactive experiences, games, and challenges, visitors can:

The exhibit also shows how the human brain goes through the process of learning, and how it is different from trying to teach a machine to “think.” Using games and puzzles, visitors try to figure out the best solutions to simple and not-so-simple tasks.

Humans learn many skills through trial-and-error and repetition. Artificial intelligence does the same thing by using math.

“One of the most exciting aspects of this exhibition is that it goes beyond simply explaining what artificial intelligence is,” says Lizz Parkinson, director of science, collections, and research at the Cranbrook Institute of Science. “Through interactive challenges, demonstrations, and real-world applications, visitors can experience how AI learns, solves problems, and interacts with the world.”

She adds as part of the opening on Sept. 27, the Cranbrook Institute of Science will host an Ignite Your Curiosity panel discussion on AI in education. Panelists include Justin Bruno, Oakland Intermediate School District Director of AI Strategy and Innovation; Keiren Reynolds, Cranbrook Schools Computer Science Department Head; and Mike Toth, Cranbrook Schools Technology Integration Specialist.

The discussion will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and is included with museum admission.

Members of Cranbrook Institute of Science will receive free admission to the museum and early access to the exhibit on Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Cranbrook Institute of Science is a natural history and science museum that has a collection of more than 250,000 objects from around the world, including many from Michigan. It includes interactive exhibits, a full-dome planetarium, and a research-quality observatory.

The Cranbrook Institute of Science is a part of the Cranbrook Educational Community. The National Historic Landmark campus also includes the Cranbrook Academy of Art, the Cranbrook Art Museum, the Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research, the Cranbrook House & Gardens, the Cranbrook Schools, and other affiliated cultural and educational programs.

For more information, visit science.cranbrook.edu.