A new exhibit at the National WWII Museum, New Orleans features artificial intelligence technology. It is allowing visitors to hold conversations with war Veterans, heroes, and supporters of the U.S. war effort. Among these noteworthy heroes is Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams. He was the last of the WWII Medal of Honor recipients up to the time of his passing in 2022. Now, in commemoration of this hero, a virtual version of him is sitting in a chair in the museum. Hanging from his neck is a medal, and his hat dons military decorations and honors. Museum visitors can go up to Williams and ask him questions about his personal experiences during the war. He will then answer them in his own voice. Sound like something of the future? Learn more about the reasoning behind this ground-breaking exhibit.Related read: 10 Top Attractions in Dallas, TX For Military & History Buffs

The Legacy of WWII Vets at the National WWII Museum, New Orleans

For years–since the New Orleans National WWII Museum opened in 2000 as a National D-Day Museum–Veterans are a big part in personalizing the experience of visiting the museum. In past years, Veterans physically volunteered at the museum. They usually manned a table near the entrance where visitors could talk to them about the war. As years have passed and we have gone through the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the Veterans have aged, gotten sick, and passed away. Thus, this caused the practice of having Veterans as physical volunteers to dissipate. Peter Crean, a retired Army colonel and the vice president of education at WWII Museum, New Orleans, stated “as [the WWII Veteran] generation is beginning to fade into history, the opportunity for the American public to speak with a World War II Veteran is going to become more and more limited.” The new exhibit provides the opportunity for the public to continue to engage in conversations with WWII Veterans and allows the legacy of these important figures in history to live on.

How Will the AI Exhibit Work?

The new AI exhibit at the National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA, called “Voices From The Front,” will use artificial intelligence to recognize the elements of visitors’ questions. It will then match the elements of that question to the most appropriate answer. The answers will come from pre-recorded video interviews with 18 Veterans or war supporters, which took four years to make. Some of these participants include a military nurse who served in the Philippines, and an aircraft factory worker. Additionally, Margaret Kerry, a dancer who performed at USO shows and was a model for the Tinker Bell character in Disney production will join Marine Corps Veteran Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Wilson. Wilson was a Medal of Honor Winner who fought at Iwo Jima, Japan. He died in June 2022, shortly following the conclusion of recording his responses. Visitors will stand in front of a console and have the choice of who they want to converse with. Once they make their selection, a life sized image of that person will appear on a screen in front of them. Then, they can begin asking questions.While the WW2 Museum, New Orleans, exhibit is made to recognize the elements of a question, the technology is not perfect just yet. However, the AI technology will be improving as more questions are asked.There is also a brief lag between the asking of the question and the answer from the technology. Over time this is also expected to fade, making the recorded answers more responsive to questions. This will make the exhibit at the National WWII Museum, New Orleans, more efficient and realistic for visitors. Suggested read: Culture of Excellence 2.0 Aims to Reshape Navy Relations

Big Things Happening at the WWII National Museum, New Orleans

The “Voices From the Front” interactive exhibit is a part of the National WWII Museum, New Orleans’ new Malcolm S. Forbes Rare and Iconic Artifacts Gallery. It is named for an infantry machine gunner who fought on the front lines in Europe. Some other exhibits include: Malcolm S. Forbes’ Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and blood-stained jacket. To learn more about this exhibit and others in the works at the National WWII Museum, New Orleans, visit their website today!Read next: Remembering Lou Conter, the Last USS Arizona Survivor

Photo credit: Courtesy of The National WWII Museum