Curious About Extinction? Cambridge Museum’s AI Initiative Lets You Converse with Deceased Creatures — What Will You Ask?

AI Breathes Life into Museum Exhibits at Cambridge University

Imagine walking into a museum and feeling the whispers of creatures long extinct, reminiscent of the movie "Night at the Museum."

Cambridge University’s Museum of Zoology is embarking on an extraordinary month-long project that starts on 15 October 2024, allowing visitors to interact with deceased animals as if they were still alive.

This initiative seeks to transform how we perceive these specimens by giving them the ability to "speak" about their lives, ultimately aiming to raise awareness about the ongoing biodiversity crisis.

Engaging Conversations with the Past

The project, developed in collaboration with Nature Perspectives, features over a dozen exhibits, including an American cockroach, a red panda, and even a fin whale skeleton.

Utilising advanced AI technology, each of these animals is given a distinct voice, personality, and accent, enabling visitors to engage in conversations through their mobile phones via text or voice.

Jack Ashby, the museum's assistant director, expressed enthusiasm for this approach, stating,

“Part of the experiment is to see whether, by giving these animals their own voices, people think differently about them. Can we change the public perception of a cockroach by giving it a voice?”

These virtual discussions offer a wealth of information about each animal’s life and the challenges they faced during their existence on Earth.

Visitors can ask questions ranging from “where did you live?” to “how did you die?”

Ashby noted,

“I started by asking things like ‘where did you live?’ and ‘how did you die?’ but ended up with far more human questions.”

This interaction transforms the museum experience, providing a new level of engagement.

A Personalised Experience Across Languages

The AI system is carefully programmed to reflect the environment and history of each exhibit.

For instance, the red panda speaks with a subtle Himalayan accent, while the mallard has a distinctly British tone.

The platypus, with its Australian twang, adds a layer of authenticity to the experience.

The adaptability of the system is impressive; it adjusts its tone and language according to the visitor's age and preferred language, making the conversations accessible in over 20 languages, including Spanish and Japanese.

This personalisation aims to create a more inclusive atmosphere, encouraging visitors from various backgrounds to participate actively in conversations with the exhibits.

Ashby remarked on the unique nature of this interaction, saying,

“When you talk to these animals, they really come across as personalities; it’s a very strange experience.”

Understanding the Biodiversity Crisis through AI

The primary objective of this innovative project is to cultivate a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world.

By analysing conversations between visitors and the animal exhibits, the museum hopes to gain insights into the information people seek regarding these specimens.

Suggested questions like “tell me about life in the open ocean” for the fin whale guide visitors, but the project encourages open dialogue, allowing for a more profound and personalised interaction.

By fostering these conversations, the museum aspires to shift perceptions regarding biodiversity loss and environmental conservation.

Ashby and his team are hopeful that these "talking animals" will ignite a new level of empathy and curiosity about nature among visitors.

This initiative serves as a bridge between the past and present, reminding us of the stories each specimen carries and the critical lessons they impart about preserving our planet's biodiversity.