Talking to the gods: how AI brings the collection to life

More ways to tell a story

The Palace of Versailles receives 8 million visitors annually. Of these, about 2% use this AI tool. Paul Chaine, Head of Digital at the Palace of Versailles, is pleased with these figures. “It’s new and innovative. Versailles has always been a place where experimentation in science and technology was central, and this AI experience fits very well with that.”

It wasn’t developed for the masses. Chaine says, “a class of 8-year-olds won’t use this, and a tourist from China who is here for the highlights will likely choose another medium.” Still, he is pleasantly surprised by the numbers in the first six months. “We want there to be a suitable tool for every visitor.” Think of audio tours, guides, podcasts, etc., and since the summer of 2025, now also this AI tool.

“Visitors already use AI in their daily lives, so we want to give them the chance to discover our sculptures and their stories in this way.”

By scanning the QR code at the statue, you start the conversation. But you don’t have to be in Versailles in front of Apollo’s statue to talk to him; it can also be done via the app. "The interface had to be simple: a red and green button, as if you’re calling a good friend," says Chaine.

Historical accuracy

To ensure historical accuracy, Versailles worked with a 'closed-loop' system of its own data. No hallucinations, just facts. Paul Chaine emphasizes the need for this curation: "We wanted to create a strict framework for each of the 20 statues with facts and anecdotes verified by our own curators."

By feeding the AI specific documents of five pages per statue, the information remained accurate. Information about the garden’s architecture and practical details was also added. This project was realized in collaboration with partners OpenAI and AskMona.

Six-minute conversations

In five months, 120,000 questions were asked, with conversations averaging six minutes. During the busiest summer months, more than 1,000 questions were asked daily.

About 80% were about the statues and mythology, while 20% of the questions were mainly practical, Chaine explains: “People asked ‘where are the toilets, what time do the gardens close today, can I enter with a wheelchair?’ This also reflects in their digital strategy: you can’t separate the cultural from the practical.”

Opportunities for smaller organizations

The French pioneer sees more possibilities for using AI in this way, even for other types of cultural organizations. Think of easing waiting times at entrances. "Waiting in line is an opportunity; people often have 20 to 30 minutes where they have nothing to do," he suggests as an ideal moment for interaction. Perfect for asking a few questions about what you’re going to see.

"We truly believe that the better informed you are about your visit, the more valuable the final experience will be."

This interactive AI application aligns well with how audiences consume information today. And such an intimate and personal conversation with gods like Apollo, no text board or audio tour can compare.

Curious about the episode of ‘Cultuurshift’ where Anic van Damme, Splinter Chabot, and Marijn Alexander de Jong discuss this project? In this video, you can watch the entire podcast episode.