More ways to tell a story
The Palace of Versailles receives 8 million visitors per year. About 2% of them use this AI tool. Paul Chaine, Head of Digital at the Palace of Versailles, is pleased with these figures. “It is new and innovative. Versailles has always been a place where experimentation in science and technology was central, and this AI experience fits perfectly with that.”
It was also not 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 probably choose another medium.” Still, he is pleasantly surprised by the numbers in the first half year. “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 opportunity to discover our sculptures and their stories in this way as well.”
By scanning the QR code near the statue, the conversation begins. But you don’t have to be at Versailles in front of Apollo’s statue to talk to him; you can also do it 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 reliability
To ensure historical reliability, Versailles worked with a 'closed-loop' system of its own data. No hallucinations, just facts. Paul Chaine emphasizes the necessity of 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 with specific documents of five pages per statue, the information remained accurate. Information about the architecture of the gardens 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 per day.
About 80% were about the statues and mythology, while 20% of the questions were mainly practical, Chaine says: “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 cannot 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 the entrance. "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 are about to see.
"We truly believe that the better informed you are about your visit, the more valuable the ultimate 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 match that.
Are you curious about the episode of ‘Culture Shift’ where Anic van Damme, Splinter Chabot, and Marijn Alexander de Jong discuss this project? In this video, you can watch the entire podcast episode.
Listen to Culture Shift
In the third season of the Culture Shift podcast, we speak with a different international pioneer in culture and technology in each episode. Think of innovations around gamification, AI, and data-driven work. How do they approach it, and what is the major added value for their audience én organization?
Host Anic van Damme and sidekick Splinter Chabot discuss this inspiring case with an expert from the sector and ask the question: what inspiration can we take in the Netherlands from this innovative example? Episode 1 is about the AI project of the Palace of Versailles.
More articles per topic
