Artificial Intelligence Serves in Russia’s Cultural Institutions

At the State Hermitage Museum, AI tools are being used to digitize art collections. Computer vision algorithms developed with the participation of the Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences and research teams from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology are applied to image analysis and the comparison of decorative elements. This helps refine the attribution of artworks and speeds up the preparation of scholarly descriptions without the need to physically handle the exhibits.

Diagnosing the Condition of Masterpieces

At the State Tretyakov Gallery, Russian AI models are being used to monitor the condition of paintings. The projects are being carried out in cooperation with the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute. The algorithms analyze previously taken digital photographs of artworks and help detect micro-damage in paint layers. This makes it easier to identify negative changes at an early stage. As a result, conservators can begin restoration work sooner, before the damage becomes critical.

Reading Ancient Manuscripts

The National Electronic Library is actively using language models developed by Russian IT teams with the participation of the Vinogradov Institute of the Russian Language of the Russian Academy of Sciences. These models can reliably recognize pre-reform orthography and old typographic fonts. This has accelerated the digitization of rare books and archival documents that were previously difficult to process automatically. The next challenge for developers is to “teach” their AI models to recognize ancient handwritten texts. This remains difficult even for experienced paleographers, and such texts are still largely inaccessible to machines.

From Capitals to Regions

In regional projects aimed at preserving intangible cultural heritage, speech recognition systems created with the involvement of specialists from the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences are being used. These systems help transcribe folklore recordings and speech in local dialects. As a result, the materials become available to researchers and archives in digital form.

Year-End Results

By the end of 2025, AI in Russian culture had secured its place as an indispensable working tool. Its development rests on domestic scientific schools and homegrown technologies. In effect, Russian specialists have turned the “machine” into an active participant in cultural life.