Ancient voices, brought to life by AI

Herculaneum Papyri, Source: Wikimedia Commons

Charred scrolls buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago are being read for the first time, thanks to remarkable advances in AI and X-ray imaging—and the diligence of a global team of scientists, historians, and entrepreneurs.

This breakthrough, part of the Vesuvius Challenge, is unlocking what may be the largest surviving library of antiquity, buried at a villa believed to have belonged to Julius Caesar’s father-in-law. Among the first words revealed was πορφύραc—“purple dye”—but a more recent milestone came with the identification of the scroll’s author: the  philosopher Philodemus, writing on moral failings in his treatise On Vices.

For those working at the intersection of technology and communication, it’s a powerful reminder that innovation can recover lost voices and open new frontiers of inquiry and inspiration.