Michelangelo AI: Chat with the Renaissance Master via New Digital Project

The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, in collaboration with New York-based AI company Querlo, has launched Michelangelo AI, a free educational chatbot that allows users to converse with a virtual Michelangelo Buonarroti. The AI, trained by art historians led by Timothy Verdon, director of the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, can answer questions about the artist's works, life, and daily habits, and sends images of his masterpieces. The project aims to bridge the gap created by global travel restrictions, making Florence's cultural heritage accessible to virtual visitors. It also promotes the monuments of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, including the Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Campanile, the Crypt of Santa Reparata, and the Baptistery, and supports restoration initiatives such as the future restoration of the 13th-century mosaics of the Baptistery dome. Francesco Rulli, CEO of Querlo, described the project as a dream come true, using personalized AI to capture Michelangelo's spirit and engage the public in heritage preservation. The chatbot is available on the Opera's website and Querlo's site.