AI decyphers a 2,000-year-old document

Greetings!

Welcome to The Menu Magic - Finance & AI weekly newsletter

In today’s email:

• AI deciphers a 2,000-year-old document

If an AI could reveal 2,000 documents, for sure would make even a doctor’s prescription understandable

Dear friend,

AI is going to change even how we read all documents, and the recent breakthrough in deciphering ancient scrolls using artificial intelligence is a testament to this fact. Ten months ago, the Vesuvius Challenge was launched to tackle the ancient problem of the Herculaneum Papyri, a collection of scrolls buried and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Today, we are thrilled to share the news that this ambitious project has succeeded. Thanks to the dedication and ingenuity of individuals like @Youssef_M_Nader, @LukeFarritor, and @JuliSchillij, who have won the Vesuvius Challenge Grand Prize of $700,000, we can finally decipher these scrolls after 2000 years. The image produced by them reveals new text from the ancient world, shedding light on topics such as music, food, and the pursuit of pleasure. Additionally, it hints at philosophical debates of the time, possibly criticizing Stoic ideologies.

However, this is just the beginning. The revealed text represents a mere 5% of one scroll, leaving much more to be discovered. In 2024, the Vesuvius Challenge persists to decipher entire scrolls, offer a new $100,000 grand prize for the team that can decode at least 90% of all four scrolls scanned so far.

The potential of this endeavor is vast. The scrolls housed in Naples contain over 16 megabytes of ancient text, and there may be countless more hidden beneath the villa where they were found. The success of the Vesuvius Challenge not only opens doors to historical insights but also spurs hope for further excavations and discoveries that could reshape our understanding of history.

The journey of unraveling these ancient texts has been filled with joy and gratitude. We owe thanks to individuals like Brent Seales for their foundational work, as well as to the generous donors and contestants whose support made this achievement possible.

As we continue to delve into the mysteries of the past, let us embrace the transformative power of AI and the collaborative spirit driving endeavors like the Vesuvius Challenge.

For more details, visit the official announcement

I'd love to hear your feedback on today's newsletter! Is there a specific type of content you'd like to see more of in the future? Since I'll be releasing a new edition each week, I welcome any suggestions or requests you may have. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

The Menu Magic is written by Francisco Cordoba Otalora, an AI entrepreneur living in London.

Share this newsletter with a friend