Artificial Intelligence for Cultural Heritage

Recent technological advances have opened a growing spectrum of research focused on developing artificial intelligence (AI) tools tailored to the needs of cultural heritage preservation. AI is now actively applied for inpainting techniques for restoration of aged oil paintings and manuscripts, as well as for 3D reconstruction of archeological artifacts and historical sites, and enhancement of accessibility through virtual and augmented reality experiences. Deep-learning models also contribute to the attribution of authorship, stylistic analysis, and even the deciphering of ancient or damaged scripts. Additionally, AI-driven monitoring systems are being used to safeguard cultural heritage and detect risks from environmental threats such as natural disasters and conflicts in real time, using satellite imagery and real-time analytics. Despite the promising developments, challenges remain regarding ethical issues, standardization, cross-disciplinary coordination, and more. Initiatives such as AI4Culture and HeritageWatch.AI indicate a strategic shift toward embedding AI into cultural policy and practice. This abstract outlines the expanding role of AI as a structural component in the future of heritage restoration, conservation, research, and engagement.