Audacity, Antiquity, and AI
In this episode of the Confluence Podcast, hosts Randall Stephens and Evan Troxel are joined by special guest Christy Chapman from the University of Kentucky to discuss how AI has unlocked antiquity.
The discussion focuses on the origins of the Vesuvius Challenge, highlighting its key figure, Brent Seales, a research professor at the University of Kentucky. Christy, who works closely with Brent, shares insights about the ambitious goal to virtually unroll and read ancient scrolls carbonized by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Using advanced technology and AI, Christy explains the significant progress made, including the pivotal role of the open-source contest funded by Nat Friedman from GitHub. The conversation covers the technical and human aspects of the project, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, community involvement, and the relentless pursuit of seemingly impossible ideas.
Later in the interview, the discussion around communication in technical projects has direct implications for both the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry and software development teams. Just as the Vesuvius Challenge team had to bridge the gap between technical experts and conservators, AEC professionals and software developers must effectively communicate complex technical solutions to various stakeholders, from clients and product managers to contractors and end users. The emphasis on understanding stakeholder concerns, building trust, and creating clear communication channels is particularly relevant when implementing new technologies or methodologies in construction projects and software development cycles. The conversation highlights how successful innovation requires not just technical excellence, but also the ability to bring people along through empathy, clear explanation, and careful consideration of their perspectives and concerns.
Episode Links:
* Brent Seals - University of Kentucky [https://engr.uky.edu/people/brent-seales]
* Vesuvius Challenge [https://scrollprize.org/]
* Forbes: AI Peers Inside Burned 2,000-Year-Old Vesuvius Scroll, Finds ‘Disgust’ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliekatz/2025/02/07/ai-peers-inside-burned-2000-year-old-vesuvius-scroll-and-finds-disgust/]
* How students teamed up to decode 2,000-year-old texts using AI [https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/machine-learning/how-students-teamed-up-to-decode-2000-year-old-texts-using-ai/] on the GitHub blog
* A team of students deciphered a 2000-year-old papyrus scroll, with some help from AI [https://www.npr.org/2024/02/10/1230604997/a-team-of-students-deciphered-a-2000-year-old-papyrus-scroll-with-some-help-from] - interview with Brent Seals on NPR
* En-Gedi Scroll (Wikipedia) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En-Gedi_Scroll]
* Kaggle [https://www.kaggle.com/]
* Diamond Light Source facility [https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Home.html]
* Uncovering ancient text from the Oxford Herculaneum scroll [https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Home/News/LatestNews/2025/05022025.html]
* The Vesuvius challenge solved! We can read the first scroll [https://www.warpnews.org/innovation/the-vesuvius-challenge-solved-we-can-read-the-first-scroll/]
* 60 Minutes - Deciphering the ancient scrolls of Herculaneum [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deciphering-the-ancient-scrolls-of-herculaneum-60-minutes-archive/]
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