Google's Arts & Culture Lab is pushing the boundaries of cultural engagement with a new suite of AI-powered voice applications. The initiative, led by Lab artists in residence Christine and Gaël, introduces novel ways for users to explore museums, improve artistic skills, and learn about cultural topics through interactive AI experiences.
The initiative includes four distinct experiments that leverage Google's AI voice models. The flagship project, "Talking Tours," offers virtual guided experiences through renowned cultural sites including the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, featuring real-time AI-generated audio commentary.
In a whimsical approach to art education, "Mice in the Museum" features two AI-generated characters named August and Pearl, who guide visitors through collections in over 100 museums worldwide. The virtual mice discuss artworks such as Rembrandt's "Girl at a Window" and Agustín Salinas y Teruel's "Festa escolar no Ipiranga" across institutions including the Musée d'Orsay in France and the Ohara Museum of Art in Japan.
The "Lip Sync" experiment presents cultural discussions through animated lips that respond to more than 100 curated questions about arts, crafts, food, and travel. Meanwhile, "Doodle Guide" offers real-time AI feedback on users' drawings, combining audio commentary with generated images to help improve artistic skills.
These applications build upon years of research and development at the Google Arts & Culture Lab, joining previous experimental projects like Blob Opera and Food Mood.