Rediscovering Ancient Cities and Lost Civilizations Using AI, AR, and VR

Imagine standing in the heart of ancient Rome, marveling at the majestic Colosseum as gladiators prepare for a fierce battle. Or strolling down the bustling streets of lost cities like Atlantis and Pompeii, feeling the thrum of life from civilizations past. Thanks to advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR), these experiences may no longer be confined to our collective imaginations.

A New Lens into the Past

AI, AR, and VR are opening up exciting new avenues for exploring history. AI uses complex algorithms to analyze data, make predictions, and simulate possible scenarios. AR overlays digital information onto our physical world, while VR immerses us in a completely virtual environment. Combining these technologies, we can virtually reconstruct and experience the rich tapestry of ancient cities and lost civilizations.

Here’s a cool (but somewhat trippy) video I made using a combination of Midjourney and Kaiber…rediscovering Ancient cities in Italy, Egypt, Jordan, India and China. Text to Video is still improving, but I would wager that in the year or two ahead, we’ll see the same exponential advances in quality that we did with image generation.

Reconstruction of Lost Cities

One of the most thrilling applications of AI in archaeology is the virtual reconstruction of ancient cities. AI algorithms can analyze archaeological remains, architectural fragments, and historical texts to piece together how these cities might have looked. For instance, with current and future AI tools, we can probably create a digital model of ancient cities like Rome, Pompei, Petra and others, offering a comprehensive look at the city’s architectural marvels in their prime.

AI can also be used to solve difficult historic puzzles – for example, in Italy, archaeologists are employing an AI-powered robot named RePAIR to analyze and reassemble ancient fresco fragments discovered at Pompeii.

Stepping into the Past with AR and VR

Imagine being able to wander through ancient cities as they were thousands of years ago. AR and VR can bring this to life. Perhaps after a few generations of Apple’s Vision Pro (and other mixed reality headsets or goggles), we may just be able to compare the current state of Pompeii’s ruins with a 3D reconstruction of how it used to look like.

Similarly, VR can transport you to entirely different times and places. Imagine sitting on your sofa and exploring the bustling city of Angkor Wat in its heyday, all from the comfort of your own home.

Deciphering Ancient Scripts with AI

AI can also help decode historical enigmas that have puzzled scholars for centuries. For example, using AI to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, a task that previously took historians many painstaking hours. This capability of AI has the potential to unlock historical narratives that have remained inaccessible for centuries. Even more interesting are using large language models to perhaps reconstruct languages on the decline (or from the past) and actually hearing (or even learning) them again!

AI has some pretty amazing applications in video gaming…see this great real time conversation between the player and an AI-powered NPC (non playable character) that was demoed by NVidia using tech from Convai.

There’s no reason why this same approach couldn’t be used for virtual tourism and educational experiences too!

Interactive Learning Experience

Learning about history is no longer confined to text-heavy books. AR and VR can provide interactive learning experiences that increase engagement and retention. With examples such as the above, you can also create ancient artifacts and let users interact with them as if they were holding them in their hands. You can also imagine what historic figures looked like – here’s an example:

Dialog with historic figures is another use case…you can already do this with some model-priming with ChatGPT, but educational platforms like KhanAcademy have also used GPT-4 powered bots (Khanmigo) to enable dialogue with your chosen literary and historic characters! See an example I tested below, conversing with Julius Caesar.

Digitizing Our Heritage

Finally, AI, AR, and VR technologies can aid in the digital preservation of historical sites and artifacts, protecting our heritage from the ravages of time and calamities. By creating digital replicas of these precious relics, we ensure that future generations can appreciate our shared human history.

The Possibilities Are Endless

To wrap up, AI combined with Mixed Reality tools promise an unprecedented opportunity to explore, understand, and preserve history. They allow us to walk in the footsteps of those who came before us, bridging the gap between past and present, and making the study of history a living, breathing journey rather than a static collection of facts.

The future of history is here, and it’s immersive, interactive, and incredibly exciting.