Conveying cultural heritage means reaching out to a diverse range of people, each with their own interests, prior knowledge and perspectives. However, not much is yet known about which forms of cultural outreach are actually effective in the digital age. A new research project at the University of Zurich (UZH) is investigating how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help make history and culture more personalized and accessible.
Whether Roman theaters, medieval castles, modern art collections, or heritage sites of the modern age: Every year, millions of people visit historic sites and engage with a diverse cultural heritage. At the same time, despite digital innovations, educational programs often remain static and follow predetermined narratives. How can content be presented in a way that reaches people of different ages, backgrounds, and interests?
This is where UZH’s AIon (Adaptive Interpretation & On-site Navigation for Cultural Heritage) research project comes in. It combines history, education, museology, and AI research in an interdisciplinary approach. In collaboration with selected Swiss cultural institutions, including the Swiss National Museum in Zurich, the Museum Rietberg, Aventicum, Augusta Raurica, and Vindonissa, AIon investigates how people perceive historical sites, objects, and collections, and what factors shape their understanding. Using a participatory research approach, AIon collects data on the expectations, learning processes, and usage patterns of various visitor groups via an AI-powered app. Interviews, questionnaires, and anonymized interaction data provide insights into how people understand history, what content interests them, and how digital educational programs can be further developed with the support of AI.
“We need new, contemporary ways to share our ancient heritage. With AIon, we’re testing innovative, adaptive AI technologies right here on our grounds. The project provides us with the scientific foundation to share history in an even more tailored and fascinating way in the future.”
Lilian Raselli, Director of the Augusta Raurica Museum
The app combines research and mediation: On-site, it uses AI to create personalized educational programs for historical objects, collections, and cultural sites based on scientifically verified sources. The content adapts to users’ prior knowledge, interests, or available time. Visitors thus receive information that precisely matches their personal preferences and needs, ranging from architectural reconstructions and audio clips to in-depth historical contexts. At the same time, the app serves as a research tool: AIon investigates how AI can be used responsibly to convey cultural content in a scientifically sound, source-based, and quality-assured manner.
AIon creates added value that extends beyond the project’s duration. This provides museums and cultural institutions with a scientifically sound foundation to further develop their offerings. Researchers gain new data on the reception of history and culture. Visitors, in turn, benefit from more personalized and appealing learning experiences. The research data collected is made available to universities, universities of applied sciences, and accredited cultural institutions in Switzerland for research, teaching, and practical applications. This establishes a lasting foundation for contemporary, AI-supported cultural education.
In order to continue conducting high-quality research and education, a modest but fully functional research station is necessary. No public research funding is available for the construction of this research station; the project therefore relies on private third-party funding. This funding will be used, on the one hand, to conduct more in-depth analyses and evaluations, and on the other hand, to organize more training sessions and workshops.
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