When we think about the use of technologies based on artificial intelligence, we primarily think about supporting several specific sectors. We see such solutions as support for programmers and engineers, some also see help for journalists and copywriters. Even medical and biotechnology assistants have more distant visions.
Of course, such visions and plans may make sense in some sense, but they reveal a certain limitation in the perception of this technology. Applications for artificial intelligence can be found almost everywhere, as long as you know how to do it.
The potential of AI can also be implemented in less obvious sciences and sectors. It turns out that such technologies can be used even in archeology and monument conservation. It sounds unbelievable, but it turns out to be a great opportunity for many monuments.
AI as an archeologists
A team of researchers led by Professor Satoshi Tanaka developed a completely innovative method of transforming photographs into three-dimensional models in full 3D. Of course, all this is powered by artificial intelligence, which makes it possible to develop such reconstructions with an extremely high level of detail.
The team’s solution is a sophisticated neural network that will approach photos and images more like an artist exploring depth and detail than a machine. The technology performs three simultaneous tasks: analyzing image content, assessing depth, and detecting subtle edge changes that create the illusion of depth in relief sculptures.
The breakthrough made by scientists from Ritsumeikan University and the University of Science and Technology in Beijing makes it possible to recreate elements of ancient culture that have been lost or are at risk of destruction. The only thing you need is a photo of a given element. This may sound complete science fiction, but the effects of this are already visible thanks to scientists and AI.
AI helps discover the secrets of Borobudur Temple
Thanks to the use of such innovative technology, the mentioned scientists were able to reveal and present to the world hidden reliefs from the Indonesian Borobudur temple. These works may be of great value to the local culture and heritage, and yet for centuries they have been hidden from the eyes of visitors.
So far, work aimed at discovering these bas-reliefs has achieved an accuracy level of 95%. The biggest problems were small details such as decorations and human faces. The missing 5% was impossible to achieve using traditional methods, even if we take 3D reconstruction into account.
The method supported by artificial intelligence was able not only to recreate these works, but also to capture what they might have looked like centuries ago, when they were still quite fresh. By noticing subtle differences in edges and small elements, AI was able to do something that seemed impossible.
AI as a history teacher like you’ve never seen before
It cannot be denied that the potential of such a tool is enormous and may be of great importance in the preservation and recreation of subsequent works of individual civilizations from around the globe. Prof. himself Tanaka emphasizes that the role of the developed model can have a significant impact on these aspects, but there is still the issue of its distribution and adaptation to specific situations and cases.
Of course, archeology and monument conservation are just one of the fields where such use of AI can be extremely effective. It is worth taking into account the teaching aspect and the opportunities it would bring for schools and universities.
It is all the more worth watching whether the tool developed by Chinese and Japanese scientists and based on AI will become the basis for a new dimension of history research. The potential is huge, I just wonder if there will be people willing to finance and implement it.
