France’s Versailles unveils AI-powered talking statues

Guests to France’s famed Palace of Versailles can now strike up a dialog with speaking statues as an alternative of listening to a standard audio information, as a part of a brand new collaboration with synthetic intelligence firms, the palace has stated.

Versailles late Monday introduced a partnership with US-based OpenAI and French start-up Ask Mona to deliver a contemporary AI contact to the enduring Seventeenth-century palace.

Curious guests can delve into Versailles’ wealthy historical past by scanning a QR code subsequent to certainly one of some 20 backyard statues—triggering interactive conversations in French, English, or Spanish.

“The Palace of Versailles is now testing synthetic intelligence, whose great capabilities will tremendously enrich the customer expertise,” stated the museum’s president, Christophe Leribault.

The heritage website welcomes some eight million guests yearly, with OpenAI and Ask Mona saying it was a golden alternative to showcase their know-how in a world-famous location.

“Whether or not you are a heritage knowledgeable, a museum curator, or a customer setting foot within the gardens of the Palace of Versailles for the primary time, there’s one thing for everybody,” stated Julie Lavet, OpenAI’s head of European partnerships.

And Ask Mona’s president stated this partnership is an opportunity to spotlight AI’s lesser explored purposes.

“Typically, once we consider synthetic intelligence, we consider it when it comes to productiveness, however right here, it is actually synthetic intelligence that could be a lever for curiosity,” stated Marion Carre.

© 2025 AFP