AI Helps Decode Fragile Ancient Scrolls Buried by Mount Vesuvius Eruption
• Researchers used AI to decipher ancient, damaged scrolls from Herculaneum that were buried in 79CE Mount Vesuvius eruption
• Scrolls were turned to fragile charcoal logs making them unreadable, but CT scans and pattern recognition unlocked text
• A trio won $700K grand prize for deciphering over 5% of one scroll, which contained text on pleasure and philosophy
• Further work aims to read 90% of 4 scanned scrolls and lay foundation to unlock all 800 scrolls in the future
• If successful, could rewrite history as only 3-5% of ancient Greek texts survive and this is only undamaged library remaining