Dead animals, alive with AI

Dear Reader,

Flipped.ai’s weekly newsletter read by more than 75,000 professionals, entrepreneurs, decision makers and investors around the world.

In this newsletter, we’re excited to share that specimens at the University of Cambridge’s Museum of Zoology will be brought to life through the power of Artificial Intelligence! Starting Tuesday, 15th October, visitors will have the unique opportunity to engage with skeletal, taxidermy, and extinct animals using generative AI technology, thanks to a collaboration with Nature Perspectives. This groundbreaking initiative, led by the museum’s Assistant Director, Jack Ashby, aims to strengthen our connection with the natural world and inspire action against biodiversity loss.

Before, we dive into our newsletter, checkout our sponsor for this newsletter.

Our Online Shopping Superhero

Remember the not-so-glorious days of jotting down your shopping list, dropping it somewhere between your kitchen table and the mall, then braving the crowds with no idea what you came for?Thank goodness for Amazon… and thank goodness for Brad’s Deals, which helps you make the most of your Prime membership.Brad leads shoppers by the hand, showing you ten lesser-known membership wonders you never knew you had—like unlimited photo storage, free release-date delivery, and early access to Lightning Deals.Get all the deals from Brad himself and transform your shopping, streaming, and saving experience. Sign up for free with your email address!

AI gives voice to dead Animals in Cambridge Exhibition: A groundbreaking evolution of museum storytelling

In a remarkable and innovative fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and natural history, Cambridge University’s Museum of Zoology has launched a groundbreaking exhibition where preserved and extinct animals are given a voice through AI-powered conversational systems. Starting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, over a dozen specimens—including iconic creatures like the dodo, fin whale, and red panda—will engage in interactive dialogues with museum visitors. These animals, frozen in time through traditional means of preservation, will now be able to narrate their own life stories, perspectives, and even their thoughts on modern environmental challenges.

This exhibition, a collaboration with the AI-driven environmental platform Nature Perspectives, represents a new frontier in museum curation. By blending historical zoology with cutting-edge AI technology, it pushes the boundaries of how museums educate, entertain, and engage their audiences. It transforms the traditional museum experience, in which visitors are passive observers of static displays, into a dynamic, interactive conversation between humans and the long-extinct or endangered creatures they study.

A new era of interactive museum experience: AI as the storyteller

For centuries, museums have been the custodians of historical artifacts and natural specimens, presenting them in displays that evoke wonder, curiosity, and learning. However, these exhibits have typically been accompanied by text plaques, audio guides, or human docents who narrate the backstory of each specimen. The current approach, while effective, leaves visitors on the outside, looking in on a frozen, static history that cannot evolve or respond in real-time.

This new exhibition at Cambridge’s Museum of Zoology completely flips this traditional dynamic. It employs AI to give the animals themselves a voice, turning the specimens from passive objects into active storytellers. Visitors can engage with the animals by asking them questions directly. The AI then generates intelligent, scientifically informed responses, helping visitors learn about the animals' lives, extinction, or ongoing struggles with climate change and human encroachment.

By reanimating the natural world in this way, the museum not only provides an educational experience but also forges a deeper, more emotional connection between visitors and the animals on display. This connection is especially vital in a world where biodiversity is under threat, and where understanding our planet's past is key to shaping its future.

The science behind the voices: How AI simulates life

At the heart of this exhibition is an advanced generative AI model designed to simulate natural dialogue. Developed in collaboration with Nature Perspectives, the AI is trained on a vast corpus of biological, ecological, and historical data pertaining to each animal species. For instance, when a visitor engages in conversation with the skeleton of a dodo, the AI draws from its knowledge of the species’ known habitat, diet, and extinction event. The AI also takes into account the broader ecological consequences of the dodo's disappearance and reflects on its symbolic importance as a species wiped out by human intervention.

The AI model not only replicates factual data but also creates an engaging, emotionally resonant narrative. The language processing system has been fine-tuned to give the animals a distinct voice that resonates with their life experiences. For example, the AI-generated dialogue for the fin whale skeleton is rich in references to its oceanic environment, the migration patterns of whales, and its eventual demise due to human hunting activities. The result is a uniquely immersive interaction, where the animal speaks as though it is telling its story from its own lived perspective.

Moreover, the AI is capable of responding to a wide variety of visitor questions. Curious about a red panda’s diet? The AI responds with detailed information about bamboo leaves, fruits, and the role these creatures play in maintaining their delicate ecosystem in the Himalayan forests. Visitors interested in environmental issues can ask about deforestation or climate change, receiving detailed explanations on how these forces are contributing to the red panda’s endangered status.

Emotional connection and education: A deeper impact

Beyond the technical marvel of AI-driven conversations, the exhibition taps into something more profound: the emotional and ethical dimensions of humanity’s relationship with nature. The ability of these AI-enhanced animals to "speak" allows for a personal connection that extends far beyond traditional learning. Visitors are no longer just reading about how animals went extinct—they are hearing it directly from the animals themselves.

For example, the dodo—a creature whose extinction has become synonymous with human-caused environmental destruction—reflects on how invasive species, habitat loss, and direct human intervention led to its downfall. It tells visitors how, once upon a time, it lived in peaceful isolation on Mauritius, only to see its population dwindle rapidly with the arrival of settlers and their imported predators. This narrative, grounded in history, creates a powerful emotional response, prompting visitors to reflect on their role in current environmental crises and conservation efforts.

“By giving animals a voice, we’re not just teaching science; we’re forging empathy,” says Jack Ashby, Assistant Director of the Museum of Zoology. “When a visitor talks to an extinct species and hears its story, it changes the way they think about biodiversity and their place in the ecosystem.”

This form of interactive storytelling has the potential to make long-lasting impressions, especially on younger generations, who are more attuned to immersive, tech-driven experiences. By integrating cutting-edge AI with natural history, the exhibition bridges the gap between science, storytelling, and ethical reflection, making it an ideal medium for sparking deeper discussions about conservation and environmental responsibility.

Augmented reality: A multi-sensory experience

In addition to AI-powered conversations, the museum incorporates augmented reality (AR) to further enhance visitor engagement. Each animal exhibit is accompanied by QR codes that visitors can scan with their smartphones, activating the AI voice and unlocking additional AR content. Through AR, visitors can see digital recreations of the animals’ natural habitats, reanimated in 3D, giving them a fuller picture of the environment in which these creatures once thrived.

For example, visitors chatting with the narwhal skeleton might simultaneously view a stunning, immersive recreation of the Arctic sea ice, complete with audio and visual elements that mimic the whale’s cold, undersea environment. The AR experience adds another layer of understanding, complementing the AI dialogue by making the historical and ecological context more tangible.

Ethical conversations: AI reflects on de-extinction and conservation

The exhibition doesn’t shy away from addressing contemporary ethical dilemmas, particularly around de-extinction and conservation. With advances in biotechnology, there is increasing discussion about whether humans should bring extinct species like the dodo or woolly mammoth back to life. The AI-powered exhibition addresses these debates head-on, allowing visitors to ask the dodo itself what it thinks about de-extinction.

“I’m not sure if I’d want to return to a world so different from the one I knew,” the AI dodo reflects, drawing attention to the complex ethical questions surrounding attempts to resurrect long-lost species. Would a newly revived dodo have a place in today’s ecosystems? Could it survive in an environment where its natural habitat has been destroyed or irrevocably altered by human activity?

Such conversations also extend to species that are still with us but face existential threats. Visitors who engage with the red panda might ask about deforestation or climate change, sparking an AI-generated conversation about the species’ struggle for survival. These animals’ stories serve as a powerful reminder of the fragile balance between human progress and the preservation of the natural world.

Pushing the boundaries: The future of museums and public engagement

This AI-powered exhibition could be a turning point for museums globally, demonstrating how AI technology can breathe new life into collections that might otherwise be seen as relics of the past. Cambridge’s Museum of Zoology is not just creating a more immersive experience for its visitors—it is leading the way in how museums of the future might educate and inspire people.

The exhibition highlights the potential for AI to transform public engagement with history and science. For institutions with extensive archives of fossils, artifacts, or specimens, AI offers a way to make those collections accessible in ways previously unimagined. Imagine a future where visitors can not only view artifacts but interact with them, asking AI-driven historical figures or extinct species about their experiences in real-time.

Such technology also opens doors to engaging younger, tech-savvy audiences who are accustomed to interacting with digital platforms and immersive technologies. Museums have always been pillars of cultural and scientific education, but in an era where digital distractions are abundant, AI provides a novel way to capture and retain the interest of a diverse, modern audience.

A call to action: The role of AI in conservation awareness

The most striking impact of the exhibition lies in its capacity to foster a sense of responsibility toward the natural world. The AI-enhanced animals not only recount their stories but also prompt visitors to reflect on the current state of biodiversity. Through their "voices," the exhibits serve as advocates for conservation, imploring humans to consider the environmental costs of their actions.

The ethical questions raised by the exhibition have significant real-world implications. Visitors are encouraged to think critically about their relationship with nature, the fragility of ecosystems, and the irreversible consequences of extinction. By speaking directly to the public, the AI-powered animals create a sense of urgency that is hard to ignore.

“This is not just an exhibition about animals,” says Gal Zanir, co-founder of Nature Perspectives. “It’s an exhibition about humanity’s impact on the world. By giving these creatures a voice, we hope to inspire visitors to take action—whether it’s supporting conservation efforts, reducing their environmental footprint, or simply appreciating the incredible diversity of life that exists today.”

Conclusion: The future of AI in museums and beyond

The Cambridge Museum of Zoology’s AI-powered exhibition represents more than just a novelty—it is a profound evolution in how we engage with history, science, and nature. By giving voice to extinct and endangered species, it forces us to reckon with the past while inspiring a sense of stewardship for the future. This marriage of AI technology with natural history offers an unforgettable, immersive experience that transcends traditional educational models.

As the museum world watches closely, this could very well be the dawn of a new era of interactive, ethical, and deeply emotional public engagement with the natural world. From giving voice to the voiceless to sparking ethical conversations about conservation and de-extinction, this exhibition shows that AI’s potential in education is as boundless as human curiosity.

Find top Indian tech talent with SourceTalent.ai by Flipped.ai 

Benefits:

• Instant Access: Reach 24M+ Indian candidates.

• AI Matching: Get the right candidates with advanced algorithms.

• Automated Hiring: Simplify job postings and candidate screening.

• Unlimited Interviews: Conduct video interviews with ease.

Why SourceTalent.ai?

• Affordable: From Rs400 / $5 per job posting.

• Top Talent: Access India’s best tech professionals.

• Efficient: Smooth recruitment with video assessments.

• Global Reach: US companies can access India’s top talent.

Start now and enjoy our launch offer: [Link]

For details, contact [email protected].

Hire smarter with SourceTalent.ai!

Want to get your product in front of 75,000+ professionals, entrepreneurs decision makers and investors around the world ? 🚀

If you are interesting in sponsoring, contact us on [email protected].

Thank you for being part of our community, and we look forward to continuing this journey of growth and innovation together!

Best regards,

Flipped.ai Editorial Team