Archaeology and Artificial Intelligence at tourismA 2026

At tourismA 2026, a round table dedicated to the relationship between archaeology and artificial intelligence is scheduled, promoted by the Università degli Studi di Milano in collaboration with the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR).  The meeting, coordinated for the Statale by Luca Peyronel and Alfio Ferrara, and for ISPC-CNR by Augusto Palombini, will bring together scholars working at the forefront of applying digital technologies to research on the past: Arianna Traviglia (CCHT-ITT), Stefano Bertoldi (University of Siena), and Gabriele Gattiglia (University of Pisa).  The discussion will provide an up-to-date overview of ongoing transformations, showing how AI-based tools are reshaping the methods and perspectives of archaeological research. From the identification of sites through aerial and satellite imagery to combating the illicit trafficking of antiquities; from high-precision analyses of artifacts to reconstruct production techniques and provenance, to the three-dimensional modeling of landscapes and monuments: artificial intelligence now stands as a strategic ally in expanding our capacity to read and interpret data.  Space will also be devoted to the most advanced experiments, such as the simulation of historical personalities grounded in historical and archaeological evidence, with whom the public can interact—opening new perspectives in public engagement and heritage enhancement.  The aim of the round table is twofold: on the one hand, to highlight the potential of AI applied to archaeology; on the other, to foster critical reflection on the methodological, ethical, and cultural implications that are redefining how we study, narrate, and share cultural heritage.  @Sala Limonaia, Palazzo dei Congressi, Florence, Saturday, February 28, h. 1:45–4:00 PM