The French government has partnered with Microsoft and French start-up Iconem to create a highly detailed digital twin of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Using thousands of photographs captured by cameras, drones, and lasers, artificial intelligence will stitch the images into a perfect virtual replica of the 862-year-old Gothic masterpiece, which reopened in 2024 after a $900 million restoration following the devastating 2019 fire.
This project matters because it provides an unprecedented conservation tool for future generations, allowing preservationists to study and protect the cathedral's architectural details for centuries to come. Microsoft's AI can also detect structural flaws in the photographs, aiding ongoing maintenance. The digital twin, donated by Microsoft, may eventually be made available online as a virtual experience, expanding global access to cultural heritage. The collaboration follows a similar successful effort with the Vatican to digitally reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica.