Overview

• Three students used AI to decipher parts of the Herculaneum papyri, winning the Vesuvius Challenge and a $700,000 prize.
• The uncovered texts, believed to be by Epicurean philosopher Philodemus, discuss music, food, and enjoying life's pleasures.
• The competition, backed by tech industry veterans, aims to read all 800 scrolls, with this year's winners uncovering about 5% of one scroll.
• The Herculaneum papyri, preserved by volcanic heat, could rewrite the history of key periods of the ancient world.
• AI's role in historical discovery is highlighted, with optimism for uncovering more ancient texts and understanding our past.