For instance, with the kebaya, I posed Ask Mona a question one may hesitate to ask out loud: “Why does a kebaya look so uncomfortable to wear?”
Its response, generated after a few seconds, read: “The kebaya might seem uncomfortable due to its form-fitting design. This style became popular in the 1930s.
“The kebaya is often made with translucent European fabrics. These fabrics can appear delicate and restrictive. Historically, it was a loose-fitting garment, evolving over time. Its design reflects a blend of cultural influences, making it unique.
“The kebaya is paired with a sarong or kain panjang, adding to its elegance.”
TWO-WAY CONVERSATIONS
This AI technology, to be clear, isn’t the same as having a digital screen display information about an exhibit or listening to an audio narration about an artefact’s history.
Such methods remain helpful in engaging museum goers. But they can “feel like a one-way conversation”, said Lum Jia Yi, assistant director of audience, communications and digital at the Peranakan Museum.
“With Ask Mona, audiences get to ask their questions. And we get to find out their train of thought (that) helps us shape what audiences are trying to find out about the collections, and (understand) how we can present our materials better.”
Ultimately, the museum aims to make its collections and culture “more accessible to the general audience”, not least since the Peranakan culture is a “living, breathing culture that’s constantly evolving”, Lum added.
And since audiences are constantly on their phone, the AI technology simply allows them to interact with the museum “in a way that they are comfortable with”.
While ATxSummit attendees got to see the initiative up close alongside the artefacts, which were brought to the summit, the experience isn’t currently available at the Peranakan Museum itself.
Non-attendees can access the experience by joining the OpenAI Forum community at forum.openai.com, where they will receive a link to the Ask Mona web app. They can then “speak” with the various Peranakan Museum artefacts listed in the app – from anywhere in the world.
