Technology powerhouse Lenovo has teamed up with the Shanghai Natural History Museum to bring animals to life using spatial computing and AI.
The project, which launched last month, uses Lenovo’s proprietary spatial computing with AI-generated content (AIGC) technology to digitally resurrect three specimens – the Yangtze river baiji dolphin, the fin whale, and the mammoth.
These accurate digital models were made by taking high-precision scans of the specimens, combined with AI algorithms and manual restoration techniques, Lenovo said in a statement.
“This innovative approach not only preserved the creatures’ physical characteristics but also brought their stories to life, making the experience both educational and emotionally engaging,” it added.
“The spatial computing with AIGC technology used in this project takes things a step further, processing large datasets quickly to create high-quality 3D models and interactive experiences.”
The digital exhibition, titled ‘Awakening Earth’s Majestic Creatures with AI’, allows guests at the museum to explore lifelike depictions of these creatures in themed and interactive environments.
Lenovo’s technology transports guests to the depths of the ocean, the waters of the Yangtze river, and the icy landscapes of the past, where they can see the digital animals in their natural habitats.
For example, the fin whale experience lets visitors swim alongside the largest mammal on the planet, also uncovering its migration patterns, and its feeding and reproductive behaviours.
Lenovo’s innovative approach
Mao Shijie, vice president of Lenovo Group and head of Lenovo’s Shanghai research institute, said: “As new technologies like AI continue to evolve, the fictional worlds of sci-fi are now becoming a reality.
“AI advancements are breaking down barriers to knowledge, allowing more people to directly experience and understand biodiversity.”
Elsewhere, the University of Cambridge’s Museum of Zoology has opened a new experience that lets guests have two-way chats with dead animals on display through AI.
Images courtesy of Lenovo and Shanghai Natural History Museum
