Google DeepMind has introduced Aeneas, an artificial intelligence model designed to assist historians in analyzing ancient Roman inscriptions. This tool aims to streamline the interpretation of fragmentary texts, offering insights into their origins, dates, and potential restorations.
Aeneas was trained on a comprehensive dataset of Latin inscriptions, enabling it to process both textual and visual information. The model can predict missing portions of texts, estimate their creation dates, and identify their likely geographical origins. In evaluations, historians found Aeneas to be a valuable resource, particularly when used in conjunction with their expertise, enhancing the efficiency and depth of their research.
Developed in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and other academic institutions, Aeneas represents a significant advancement in the application of AI to historical studies. It exemplifies how technology can support the humanities by providing tools that complement traditional scholarly methods, facilitating a more nuanced understanding of ancient texts.
Historians emphasize that while Aeneas offers powerful capabilities, its suggestions should be considered as hypotheses requiring scholarly verification. The integration of AI into historical research workflows is seen as a promising development, provided it is used thoughtfully and critically to enrich the study of ancient civilizations.