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How AI Is Decoding Ancient Scrolls | Julian Schilliger and Youssef Nader | TED

AI researcher Youssef Nader and digital archaeologist Julian Schilliger share how they used AI to virtually “unroll” and decode the Herculaneum scrolls, burnt and buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. Learn how AI could help decipher a range of artifacts, revealing clues about the mysteries and achievements of the ancient…

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AI researcher Youssef Nader and digital archaeologist Julian Schilliger share how they used AI to virtually “unroll” and decode the Herculaneum scrolls, burnt and buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. Learn how AI could help decipher a range of artifacts, revealing clues about the mysteries and achievements of the ancient world. (Recorded at TEDAI Vienna on October 19, 2024)

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40 Comments

40 Comments

  1. @NickMACK1473

    January 30, 2025 at 7:09 am

    watching from Grenada in the acaribbean sea

  2. @sooma-ai

    January 30, 2025 at 7:11 am

    AI researchers Youssef Nader and Julian Schilliger explain how they used AI to virtually unroll and decode the Herculaneum scrolls, burnt by Mount Vesuvius 2,000 years ago. They detail the process of digitizing, unrolling, and revealing hidden text using advanced algorithms and machine learning.

  3. @serendipitytwo777

    January 30, 2025 at 7:15 am

    THIS is the best of humanity. Working together ❤

  4. @angelreder9064

    January 30, 2025 at 7:26 am

    How about AI destroying lives. Why are there no stories about that

    • @NilsExp

      January 30, 2025 at 8:50 am

      Check out my comment ‘Dear TED’ on this video ????

    • @ayatamer4028

      January 30, 2025 at 1:22 pm

      Cara Hunter’s talk from the same event, uploaded on this channel a month ago, is about that.

  5. @leeb588

    January 30, 2025 at 7:29 am

    “It even made it into the British tabloids.” The statement and laughter says it all about our UK newspapers! Awesome news though, the possibility of revealing lost knowledge and history!

  6. @lee30332

    January 30, 2025 at 7:37 am

    Not exactly comfortable with this

  7. @daskoonskoon5070

    January 30, 2025 at 7:55 am

    Is it just me or does julian seem like an ai

  8. @daskoonskoon5070

    January 30, 2025 at 8:07 am

    Ok what does it say though???

    • @nuhwannnun

      January 30, 2025 at 10:23 am

      no government is letting anybody release that publicly immediately lol

    • @BonnieShadow33

      January 30, 2025 at 1:31 pm

      Any Greek readers here? They could tell you. Too bad I’m not; I just recognize Greek letters.

  9. @Student-m4f

    January 30, 2025 at 8:31 am

    the 2nd guy was more introvert than me.

  10. @ultrakool

    January 30, 2025 at 8:41 am

    I’m not sure I buy into the whole “threw a rock into a cave to flush out a goat and heard pottery break” narrative. Now they’re gonna let AI gets its hooks into everything? I see a bad moon rising????

  11. @ultrakool

    January 30, 2025 at 8:41 am

    I’m not sure I buy into the whole “threw a rock into a cave to flush out a goat and heard pottery break” narrative. Now they’re gonna let AI gets its hooks into everything? I see a bad moon rising🙄

  12. @NOTHINGSYOU

    January 30, 2025 at 8:42 am

    i used to think being magnetic was just about looks or confidence, but i couldn’t have been more wrong. i read this book called Magnetic Aura by Takeshi Mizuki, and it totally changed my perspective. it breaks down the energy and mindset behind true attraction in a way that just makes sense. once i started applying what it taught, i noticed people reacting to me differently almost instantly. it’s seriously worth a read.

    • @SanityTastesGood

      January 30, 2025 at 10:14 am

      Feels bot. This same text is in many comment sections.

    • @owlson2527

      January 30, 2025 at 10:58 am

      Report for spam, bot.

  13. @DominionAnako-bb7ry

    January 30, 2025 at 8:47 am

    Motivation

  14. @NilsExp

    January 30, 2025 at 8:48 am

    Dear TED, I for one, consciously attempt to avoid any reporting on AI. Though it may be “the future”, it’s definitely not there yet. AI scour’s the internet for human created content to cobble together a curated response, not all accurate, helpful or relevant. Now we’re left with this echo chamber of confused misinformation. What ever happened to the interesting, thought provoking topics you became known for? I used to think you were actually doing something positive this planet. Kind regards, ????!

  15. @NilsExp

    January 30, 2025 at 8:48 am

    Dear TED, I for one, consciously attempt to avoid any reporting on AI. Though it may be “the future”, it’s definitely not there yet. AI scour’s the internet for human created content to cobble together a curated response, not all accurate, helpful or relevant. Now we’re left with this echo chamber of confused misinformation. What ever happened to the interesting, thought provoking topics you became known for? I used to think you were actually doing something positive this planet. Kind regards, 🖕!

  16. @chickenfriedrice2932

    January 30, 2025 at 9:13 am

    Mind blowing!

  17. @CaroleMcDonnell

    January 30, 2025 at 10:20 am

    Oedipus Rex won prize three in the annual playwriting contest. Lit majors have often wondered what the first prize play was. Am so waiting to see what all these scrolls have written on them. More plays to read.

  18. @johnf5315

    January 30, 2025 at 11:05 am

    The bigger question is how integrated AI is decoding individuals’ information?

  19. @HVPINESS

    January 30, 2025 at 11:06 am

    greatest school project ever

  20. @ChadKovac

    January 30, 2025 at 1:31 pm

    But what did it say?

  21. @DIGIL.

    January 30, 2025 at 1:41 pm

    Please decode the Harappan manuscript

  22. @angelreder9064

    January 30, 2025 at 2:20 pm

    @ayatamer4028 Thank you

  23. @AdityaMehendale

    January 30, 2025 at 2:30 pm

    If this holds water, then amazing work. I see, however, a non-negligible chance, that this work shall be debunked as “mostly hallucinations” in a few years.

  24. @Portion2131

    January 30, 2025 at 3:05 pm

    How Ai can change the past..they said it clearly. Wake up public and privacy are being played

  25. @Prince36944

    January 30, 2025 at 5:45 pm

    one night i was scrolling through my phone, feeling like i’d never figure out why some people just seem so magnetic. then i came across this book, Magnetic Aura by Takeshi Mizuki, and something about it caught my attention. reading it was like turning on a light in a dark room. it’s not about pretending to be someone you’re not; it’s about unlocking the energy you already have. trust me, this book is worth every page

  26. @hariomjadhaw3384

    January 30, 2025 at 5:45 pm

    there was a time when i kept wondering why some people seemed to naturally draw others in while i was just…there. no matter what i tried, i couldn’t figure out how they did it. then someone mentioned the book Magnetic Aura by Takeshi Mizuki, and i decided to check it out. the way it explains how your aura affects everything around you? it blew me away. it’s like having a secret code to unlock your magnetic energy. this book is a game-changer.

  27. @santhikumari9601

    January 30, 2025 at 5:45 pm

    i remember feeling like i was always the one fading into the background while others stood out effortlessly. it was frustrating and made me doubt myself a lot. then i came across this book, Magnetic Aura by Takeshi Mizuki, and it showed me things i’d never even considered. it’s not just a self-help book; it’s like a guide to understanding your own energy and using it to connect with people. if you’ve ever felt like you’re not seen, this book might change everything.

  28. @RickLambert963

    January 30, 2025 at 10:12 pm

    I just caught AI lying about the third leading cause of death. The conqueror tells his story, that’s history, mostly a pack of lies told by psychopaths who weren’t even there. The psychopath overlords controlling AI taught it to lie.

  29. @pmvdmeulen

    January 31, 2025 at 1:04 am

    Stupid. Ted is becoming boring.

  30. @steyyyjspapa

    January 31, 2025 at 2:20 am

    I am at the beginning of my “investment journey”, planning to put 385K into dividend stocks so that I will be making up to 30% annually in dividend returns. any good stock recommendation on great performing stocks or Crypto will be appreciated..

  31. @mariaantoniettamontella9173

    January 31, 2025 at 5:05 am

    applausi, largo ai giovani.

  32. @anam.caballerowilson9421

    January 31, 2025 at 9:18 am

    😅😅

  33. @matthewadams5476

    January 31, 2025 at 12:16 pm

    So what does it say?

  34. @cynthiachalimi5949

    January 31, 2025 at 6:07 pm

    Thanks

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CNET

Everything Announced at Google I/O 2026 in 13 Minutes

Google I/O 2026 was all about improvements in AI. Gemini is getting smarter, faster and more customized. See what was presented at this year’s event, from a more intuitive Gemini Omni to the realization of Android XR with consumer products coming in the fall. We’ve got the highlights. 00:03 Google products with 1 billion users…

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Google I/O 2026 was all about improvements in AI. Gemini is getting smarter, faster and more customized. See what was presented at this year’s event, from a more intuitive Gemini Omni to the realization of Android XR with consumer products coming in the fall. We’ve got the highlights.

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Did Google Just Change Everything? Tech Experts React to Google I/O 2026

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Google I/O 2026 just wrapped, and we’re breaking down the absolute biggest announcements. Join our expert panel—featuring Andrew Lanxon (CNET), Andrew Gebhart (PCMag), and Timothy Beck Werth (Mashable)—as they analyze everything you need to know about the next generation of Google Gemini, the highly anticipated Android XR Glasses, and more.

Read more about Google I/O on CNET.com
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Google I/O 2026 Live: Here’s Everything Google Just Announced

Follow Mashable’s Live Blog:
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#google #googleio #android #androidxr #gemini #ai #artificialintelligence

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Google Search is Getting its Biggest AI Revamp Yet at Google IO 2026

Google Search as you know it is over. The familiar blue links we’ve seen for 25 years are getting pushed out in favor of an “intelligent search box,” which Google is putting front and center as part of its all-in push for AI-powered experiences. On top of all that, “information agents” are planned to release…

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Google Search as you know it is over.

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