Digital Technology Meets Culture in Houston & Boston This December

During this conference organized by Archeology Now, Alliance Française de Houston and Villa Albertine, Natalia Peters from Iconem and a representative from Histovery will raise public awareness about the significance of historical reproductions and heritage through a discussion.

Archaeology Now
As the Houston branch of the Archaeological Institute of America, Archaeology Now hosts various public events aimed at making human history accessible through architecture and knowledge.

Alliance Française of Houston

The Alliance Française de Houston offers a comprehensive language program alongside a great cultural experience open to all. More than just a place for learning, it hosts a wide range of cultural events, including French art and photography exhibitions, receptions, and concerts. As a key player in the cultural scene of Houston, the Alliance Française serves as a dynamic hub where the richness of French culture is celebrated.

(c) Andrew Tallon

Uniting innovators from French start-ups Ask Mona, Histovery, and Iconem with key players in Houston’s cultural scene, this professional event aims at creating a new connection between the two vibrant cultural ecosystems. Attendees will engage in dynamic discussions, showcasing exciting projects and exchanging ideas in order to forge future partnerships in the world of culture.

(c) Orange

Over the course of three days, French start-ups Iconem, Ask Mona, and Imki will meet with some of Boston’s leading cultural players.

(c) Marion Carré, founder of Ask Mona

Featuring:

Manon Carré presenting Ask Mona
Marion Carré founded Ask Mona in 2017, aiming to provide a service to help museums, galleries and other cultural institutions implement chatbots and digital experiences. The Paris-based company has met with great success and is in partnership with several leading institutions, including the Centre Pompidou, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, and Rome’s Colosseum.

Natalia Peters presenting ICONEM 
Natalia Peters is the Director of Development at Iconem, a pioneering French company at the forefront of protecting cultural heritage in the face of challenges like overtourism, pollution, the climate crisis, and global conflicts. By partnering with architects, archaeologists, engineers, computer scientists, and graphic designers, Iconem focuses on creating digitization models to restore and recreate endangered or destroyed historical monuments. Currently, they are working on 198 sites worldwide, including places like Mont-Saint-Michel, the ruins of Angkor, and the archaeological site of Palmyra in Syria.

Faïçal Selka presenting IMKI x ANAMNESIA
Faïçal Selka is the Chief Innovation Officer at Imki, a company that offers augmented creative AI solutions for the luxury and fashion industry. Through its generative AI technology, Imki transforms the design and manufacturing process, enhancing productivity and efficiency. With strong partnerships in the sector, Imki pushes artistic and technical boundaries to create exceptional collections that combine aesthetics and innovation. As partner of Imki, the Anamnesia agency designs and produces interactive, multimedia, and audiovisual mediation spaces and devices for museums seeking to offer their audiences a fresh experience. Having already forged partnerships with internationally renowned cultural institutions, Anamnesia aims to harness new technologies to enhance and rejuvenate the museum experience.

Antonio Torralba
As Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, Antonio Torralba specialized in computer vision, machine learning, and human visual perception. His groundbreaking research focuses on developing systems that mimic human sensory perception, exploring not only visual data but also integrating modalities like audition and touch. By bridging the gap between technology and the humanities, he inspires innovative solutions that leverage AI and machine learning to enrich our understanding and appreciation of heritage in the digital age.

Moderated by:

Jean Arnaud
A philosopher, professor, and artist, Jean Arnaud dedicates his work and reflections to the role of artificial intelligence in our society. Driven by his enlightened and humanistic philosophical vision of AI, he promotes a ‘rAivolution’ that would enable individuals to better understand their world and their own complexity. He is also the co-founder of AEthos, a true hub for launching innovations in AI.

(c) Alice Baumann