The Basilica of San Pedro is now available in version ‘Minecraft’the best -selling video game in history, but in its educational facet, which will allow students from all over the world to explore the inaccessible corners and discover their history from a 3D model without the need to travel to Rome.
‘Peter is here: ai for cultural heritage’ It has been created from a detailed 3D scan of the building based on about 400,000 photographs and Artificial intelligence (AI) and, although recreation respects the original architecture, maintains the characteristic pixelated style of Minecraft.
“There are certain places within the Basilica, for example Pedro’s tomb, which would be practically impossibleexplained Efe Juan M. Lavista Ferres, Corporate and Scientific Data Vice President, Chief of the “AI for Good Lab” of Microsoft.
The video game includes all corners of the basilica, but its goal goes beyond mere exploration: Players can travel it and find representative objects of their history, What makes this project a guided educational experience within ‘Minecraft Education’ through the creative resolution of problems.
Laser, drones and Ia for perfect reconstruction
“A 3D universe makes it easier to understand the concepts because you have practical experience with the world and that increases curiosity,” explained the director of ‘Minecraft Education’, Allison Matthews, in the presentation this Tuesday in Rome.
The video game is the result of a collaboration between the factory of San Pedro, Microsoft and ICONEM, a company specialized in the digital preservation of cultural heritage, which have been working with the Vatican for years.
At the end of 2024, these organizations had already presented a hyperrealist digital replica of the basilica, created with advanced technology and use of AI.
“There are many people in the world who, where they live or for their situation, can never visit the Basilica of San Pedro.Lavista added.
To achieve a “perfect” reconstruction that includes every square centimeter of the basilica, even the areas not open to the public, completely scanned from the building, through 400,000 photographs, drones and laser technology.
“Without this it would be practically impossible”said Lavista, who explained the key use of this technology for the digital reconstruction of space, the capture of images with drones or the analysis of materials and structures.
The use of AI in the Vatican
In addition to bringing the emblematic building to young people and people with accessibility difficulties, AI has more route within the walls of the Vatican.
This technology, he told Efe Lavista, is transferable to any other monument to be quite “general”: “We can convert photos and measurements into 3D models and then use this same model to discover potential problems, such as cracks or pieces that are missing, and help conserve the monument,” he explained.
The collaboration between Microsoft and the Vatican began in 2019, when the president of the company, Brad Smith, met with the Pope Francis To talk about AI and Ethics and, since then, work has been “narrow and fluid”, allowing the development of this innovative project.
“The Pope is completely aware.Lavista said.
On several occasions, Francisco has expressed his conviction that AI can be a powerful tool for scientists and experts in the search for innovative and creative solutions.