Elon Musk has reportedly donated a substantial sum of money to fund an AI project that could change our understanding of Ancient Rome. The Tesla boss has reportedly given $1 million to the American Institute for Roman Culture (AIRC), an American non-profit organization whose goal is to study and preserve Greco-Roman culture.
Elon Musk donates $1 million for AI project
Elon Musk, the head of SpaceX, has backed the American Institute for Roman Culture (AIRC) for a new project. The initiative aims to uncover more about Ancient Roman culture (via Indy100), driven by artificial intelligence. This project reportedly has the potential to change the understanding of Roman culture entirely.
Eleven grants were given to archaeological programs utilizing this developing technology at the annual Expandere Conscientiae Lumen prize ceremony this year.
Musk spoke at the ceremony via video link on October 24. “I am interested in history and Rome constitutes a large part of the history of Western civilisation,” he said. He also noted that AI will be able to fill the knowledge gaps by writing “a new history book based entirely on ancient material and archaeology.”
Elon Musk has often expressed his fascination with Ancient Rome, which is evident from his earlier comments about the civilization. He has made multiple posts sharing his admiration for Roman culture and its history.
With Musk’s funds, there is a chance that the project could yield valuable results. Moreover, several other archaeological projects have utilized AI to further research in related areas.
There are several ways the technology can be applied. For instance, one involves using drones and photogrammetry powered by AI to render detailed models of Greco-Roman sites in Jordan. These sites may have been lost due to climate change. Additionally, another use could involve analyzing geological “fingerprints” of pigments. This can help trace trade routes and learn more about the culture and its relationships.
