Microsoft adds cultural heritage to its AI programme – seeks partnerships
by Andy Knaggs | 16 Jul 2019
The iconic Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy was the focus of a partnership between Microsoft and HoloForge Interactive and Iconem in Paris, through which a mixed reality and AI museum experience was created / Microsoft
– Brad Smith
Cultural heritage has become the latest focus for Microsoft in its AI for Good portfolio – a five-year commitment to using artificial intelligence to tackle some of society's biggest challenges. The project will create opportunities for designers and architects to collaborate on projects impacting facilities.
"As we have learned more about the dimensions that make up cultural heritage, we've concluded that preserving cultural heritage isn't something that is solely nice to have or nice to do, it's sometimes imperative to the wellbeing of the world's societies," said Microsoft president Brad Smith.
"We've realised this work deserves more than a handful of projects. That's why we're bringing these efforts together in a more comprehensive programme that will explore and pursue new opportunities with institutions around the world."
Microsoft says it wants to use AI to work with non-profit organisations, universities and governments to "help preserve the places we live, the artefacts we treasure and the languages we speak".
Already included in the US$125m (€111.4m, £100.6m) programme are AI for Accessibility, AI for Humanitarian Action and AI for Earth (providing for tools for startups working to protect the planet).
Now AI for Cultural Heritage is the fourth pillar of the programme and follows on from a number of projects that Microsoft has been working on.
These have included using artificial intelligence to make the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Open Access collection accessible to the internet-connected world, the preservation of endangered languages in Mexico and the creation of a new museum experience in France, with mixed reality and AI paying homage to Mont Saint-Michel.
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Cultural heritage has become the latest focus for Microsoft in its AI for Good portfolio – a five-year commitment to using artificial intelligence to tackle some of society's biggest challenges. The project will create opportunities for designers and architects to collaborate on projects impacting facilities. "As we have learned more about the dimensions that make up cultural heritage, we've concluded that preserving cultural heritage isn't something that is solely nice
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