Fast Company: The Vatican and Microsoft on Monday unveiled a digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica that uses artificial intelligence to explore one of the world’s most important monument’s while helping the Holy See manage visitor flows and identify conservation problems.
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Personally to me this feels kind of weird. I love the fact that this architectural marvel is becoming more accessible to people, but I also feel like it looks kind of cheap and flat from the video that I had searched up. Honestly the photo in the beginning of this article of the mapping is so much cooler. I am also a little confused on what they're planning to do with this, because it sounds as though they are proposing it as a substitute to the long lines and crowded halls and atrium of the Vatican. I don't know how this would fix that, as I assume the same amount of people would still want to see the Vatican in person. I feel as though the AI copy could be harmful, since it gives viewers a flat and false impression of what the space is actually like– the colors and depth. You can see pictures and stuff all you want, but nothing prepared me for the absolute vastness, scale, and size of the Vatican when I visited it last spring. The architectural masterpiece that is the Vatican is meant to be experienced authentically and in person, however I do agree with how they mapped it, finding structural problems, and in a virtual tour which they could put out on their website for people who are unable to visit.
Pope Frances calling for the use of ethical AI use and its regulation is a good sign. I’m not sure how this collaboration will influence politicians to put in regulations for artificial Intelligence. Maybe it will spark the Catholic politicians to consider how it could be used? The preservation of humanity and helping provide services for all humans is hopefully the goal of all people. Unfortunately time and time again it is not. The regulations behind new technology are sadly lacking and always fall behind the rise of technology until a tragedy paves the history of humanity with blood. Examples like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire especially in the United State lack in the regulation of important technologies & production processes. The hope that politicians will not be bribed and dined into doing nothing until a tragedy lights a fire and blocks their way to another election is too low to be counted on.
This is not exactly an AI crossover episode that I ever thought would happen, but here we are. This is a pretty cool use of AI, though I have to admit the article didn’t exactly specify how AI plays a role in the digital model of the building. I found it interesting to see that the Pope mentioned AI, but with AI becoming more and more prevalent in the digital world, I guess it makes sense. I was surprised that this initiative was started in 2018, when AI was barely in its first stages of growth. It’s a great way, like the article says, to encourage ethical use of AI. It’s great that this 3D replica not only allows more people to experience St. Peter’s Basilica but also helps identify faults and damage to the building. Not only that, but this effectively preserves a piece of history for years to come, as long as someone keeps the 22 petabytes somewhere.
Reading about Microsoft and the Vatican teaming up to create a digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica honestly blew my mind. I mean, how often do you see ancient heritage and cutting-edge tech collaborating this seamlessly? What struck me most was how this blend of AI and history isn’t just about preserving a building—it’s about making something sacred accessible to millions who might never set foot in Rome. It reminds me of how art and drama can similarly use technology to break barriers. For instance, think of digital theater productions or virtual museum tours during the pandemic. Those moments proved that technology doesn’t replace physical experiences but amplifies them, giving more people a chance to engage deeply with culture and history. And then there’s the ethical side Pope Francis highlighted. Using AI to preserve and share heritage feels like an antidote to fears of AI being purely dystopian. It’s using innovation for good, kind of like how modern plays or films tackle big issues—think of Black Mirror but with hope instead of dread. The idea of "compassionate technology" feels like a concept straight out of a drama class discussion.
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