How AI is creating a UK super-museum and revealing our planet's history
More than 70 million specimens from 100 UK collections will be put into an online digital museum
By BBC News
Scientists are using artificial intelligence to build a UK-wide digital museum that could eventually let people explore about 70 million specimens online. The project brings together collections from around 100 museums, botanical gardens, universities and other organisations across the country.
The scheme is called DiSSCo UK, according to the BBC report. It aims to digitise animals, plants, fossils and rocks, including some specimens that are centuries old, and make them searchable on phones and computers.
The report says the system could cut the time needed to digitise collections from centuries to around 10 years. It is also intended to help researchers study how the UK’s natural world has changed over time and to improve forecasts for future changes in climate, food supplies and biodiversity.
Some specimens are already searchable, but they account for only a small part of the national collections. The BBC says new funding will open up more cabinets and drawers across the UK so millions more items can be added.