Twenty marble statues in the baroque gardens of Versailles can now converse with visitors through advanced artificial intelligence. This innovative feature has been integrated into the monument’s official app, enabling authentic conversations with mythological figures like Apollo.
The ambitious project results from collaboration with OpenAI and aims to attract younger audiences as well as more French visitors. Currently, 80% of the 8.4 million annual visitors are foreigners with an average age of 40 years.
Augmented and virtual reality reconstruct history
Beyond the talking statues, the app offers augmented reality experiences that bring the past to life. Users can witness:
• Elaborate courtly dances in real-time
• Eccentric period hairstyles through digital filters
• Reconstructions of destroyed areas like the royal zoo
Virtual reality technology enables virtual tours of lost attractions, including a mysterious labyrinth and cave that were sacrificed for the creation of new wings.
Successful results and future prospects
Versailles president Christophe Leribault describes the OpenAI collaboration as an “absolutely useful educational tool” that produces reliable information. The platform records approximately 1,000 daily interactions, demonstrating growing visitor interest.
Julie Lavé, OpenAI’s head in France, emphasizes that Versailles serves as an ideal testing ground due to its global appeal. The program’s successful implementation signals the expansion of similar initiatives to other historical monuments, making France a model for digital transformation in cultural tourism.
