Bletchley Park to present ‘AI Alan Turing’- a world-first interactive experience
Bletchley Park, the once-secret home of Britain’s World War Two Codebreakers, is set to introduce a groundbreaking new interactive display - an AI version of Alan Turing, the ‘father of AI’. The collaboration between Bletchley Park Trust and 1956 Individuals will reimagine Turing in the historic Enigma codebreaking hut he headed up during the war.
Bletchley Park Trust is partnering with 1956 Individuals, a UK-based company specialising in AI character development, to create a life-size interactive Alan Turing character who can converse naturally with visitors in a range of languages. This first-of-its-kind project takes on-site interpretation to a whole new level. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to ask ‘Turing’ questions about his life, the Enigma cipher, and Bletchley Park's vital role in World War Two.
The AI character utilises facial recognition, tailoring its responses based on whether it's speaking with an individual, a group, or even children. This is a world-first; no-one else has ever used facial recognition cameras to determine the numbers and demographics of an audience, and then tailor conversational responses accordingly. "We couldn't think of a better person to recreate in AI form than Alan Turing," says Babita Devi, Chief Strategy Officer of 1956 Individuals. "Visitors will be able to engage with his story in a new and compelling way, hopefully getting to know him and Bletchley Park a little better. This is a new and exciting form of interpretation, and we applaud Bletchley Park for their ambition and imagination."
Bletchley Park's Director of Public Engagement, Rebecca Foy, is also enthusiastic about the project. “Opening at the same time as a new exhibition at Bletchley Park on AI, we are looking forward to introducing our visitors to our wartime story in a new and exciting way, highlighting the part that Codebreakers, such as Alan Turing, played in the emergence of machine learning. Alan Turing is considered the father of AI. Even without his wartime work at Bletchley Park, he would rightly be famous for his pioneering computing work alone. Following on from hosting the world’s first AI Safety Summit in November 2023, Bletchley Park Trust is keen to find ways to showcase the legacy of the WW2 Codebreakers on today’s world and is thrilled to take part in this innovative AI project with 1956 Individuals.”
Sir Dermot Turing, nephew of Alan Turing and recent trustee of the Bletchley Park Trust, adds “Alan Turing’s pioneering research on machine learning can be traced back directly to his work with machine solutions to codebreaking problems at Bletchley Park during World War Two. I know lots of people come to Bletchley Park to get a bit closer to Alan Turing, and this will be a fun way to do that.”
The process of creating an AI version of Alan Turing, including a character digital likeness and voice, is expected to take several months and will involve some of the UK gaming industry's most celebrated digital character artists. Further details of the on-site launch will follow soon.