AI brings extinct dodo to life for Cambridge museum visitors

Innovative museum experience: The University of Cambridge’s Museum of Zoology is launching a groundbreaking initiative that allows visitors to engage in two-way conversations with animal specimens using generative artificial intelligence.

• The month-long experiment, starting Tuesday, features 13 carefully selected specimens, including extinct species like the dodo and living animals such as the blue fin whale.
• Visitors can initiate conversations by scanning QR codes near the exhibits, enabling interactions with the specimens through their smartphones.
• The AI-powered system can communicate in over 20 languages, making the experience accessible to a diverse range of museum-goers.

Engagement and education goals: The primary objective of this initiative is to foster a deeper connection between visitors and the natural world, while also providing valuable insights into public interests regarding the displays.

• Assistant director Jack Ashby emphasizes the potential for changing attitudes towards certain species, such as improving perceptions of cockroaches through personalized interactions.
• The project aims to test the effectiveness of emerging AI technology in a museum setting, potentially revolutionizing how people engage with exhibits and scientific information.

Technological collaboration: The Museum of Zoology has partnered with Nature Perspectives, a company specializing in AI-driven public engagement for institutions focused on nature and conservation.

• Nature Perspectives, founded by Cambridge University graduates, utilizes AI to create conversational experiences that simulate the animal’s point of view based on scientific knowledge and species-specific traits.
• The company’s approach is inspired by research suggesting that people feel more connected to machines when engaging in conversation, applying this principle to strengthen connections with nature and combat apathy towards biodiversity loss.

Unique interactive experience: According to Nature Perspectives co-founder Gal Zanir, this project represents a first-of-its-kind opportunity for museum visitors to have immersive, first-person interactions with natural history specimens.

• The AI-powered conversations allow visitors to ask any questions that interest them, with responses crafted from the animal’s simulated perspective.
• This approach aims to provide a more engaging and personal learning experience compared to traditional museum displays.

Ensuring accuracy and reliability: To maintain scientific integrity, Nature Perspectives has implemented measures to ensure the AI responds accurately and avoids fabricating information.

• The AI system is fine-tuned using a curated set of scientific data selected by the company’s team of ecology experts.
• While the AI can access broader knowledge, it prioritizes the carefully curated information to maintain accuracy and relevance.

Diverse specimen selection: The project includes a wide range of animal specimens, representing both extinct and living species from various taxonomic groups.

• Participants include the narwhal, red panda, brain coral, red admiral butterfly, huia (an extinct New Zealand bird), platypus, giant sloth fossil, giant deer, mallard, and Ichthyostega model.
• This diverse selection allows visitors to explore a broad spectrum of animal life and ecological concepts through their conversations.

Immersive conversational design: The AI-powered conversations are designed to be highly engaging and realistic, with specimens responding as if they were still alive.

• Visitors can choose between voice or text-based interactions, allowing for a more personalized and accessible experience.
• The system’s ability to communicate in multiple languages further enhances its inclusivity and educational potential.

Broader implications and future applications: Nature Perspectives envisions wide-ranging applications for this technology beyond museum settings, with potential impacts on various fields related to nature and conservation.

• The company aims to apply this approach to public engagement, education, scientific research, and even representation of nature in legal processes and policy-making.
• This initiative could pave the way for innovative methods of connecting people with the natural world and fostering a greater sense of environmental responsibility.