Bletchley Park opens new AI exhibition

The Age of AI exhibition explores the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence. Providing an unparalleled look at AI, from its origins in World War II codebreaking to its role in our daily lives, its potential to transform our world, and the ethical questions it raises. 

A journey through time and technology

• Visitors will discover the evolution of AI technologies from early breakthroughs, such as Turing’s foundational concepts and IBM’s Deep Blue defeating world chess champion Garry Kasparov, to modern innovations
• The exhibition also delves into advances such as Generative AI, transformative models like ChatGPT, and cutting-edge applications in medicine and environmental conservation

Spotlight on Bletchley Park pioneers 

• The exhibition highlights the pivotal contributions of Bletchley Park Codebreakers, including Alan Turing, Irving John “Jack” Good, and Donald Michie
• These visionaries laid the groundwork for AI technologies, inspiring future generations of scientists and sparking debates on topics like machine learning and ethical AI

Interactive exhibits and case studies 

• Visitors can engage with hands-on exhibits, challenging themselves to distinguish between real-life and AI-generated content, testing their ability to analyse satellite images like an AI tool, and seeing if AI can recreate their voice
• Case studies demonstrate AI’s impact on pressing global issues, such as predicting climate disasters, advancing personalised medicine, and creating innovative prosthetics
• A case study on the future of 3D printing, provided by the Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust explores how AI-assisted printing may develop and benefit more patients in the future

Global impact and ethical questions

• The exhibition showcases AI’s dual nature – its immense potential to revolutionise fields like healthcare, creative industries, and environmental science, and the ethical dilemmas it poses regarding climate change, bias, and employment
• The Bletchley Declaration, born out of the world’s first AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park in November 2023 and hosted by the UK Government, emphasised the need for international cooperation to ensure AI is developed responsibly
• The summit series has continued, and AI is now part of conversations at the G7, UN, and G20 – joining other big issues of today’s world, like climate change. The third AI Safety Summit (the AI Action Summit) is being held in Paris on 10-11^th February 2025

Creative industries and AI 

• The exhibition explores AI as a tool for the creative industries, including music, gaming, fashion, advertising, and film
• Highlights include Sougwen Chung’s collaboration with robot artists, and the sale of an AI-generated Alan Turing portrait by AI artist Ai Da for over $1 million
• Visitors can discover more about the short film The Frost, widely considered the first film in which every shot has been generated by AI tools
• These creations challenge perceptions of creativity, authorship, and the human-machine partnership

Future visions 

• Hear three experts working in the field of AI discuss their thoughts on what the future might look like in an increasingly AI-powered world. They discuss how they think AI will develop over the next five years, how AI might affect the job market, and the biggest opportunities and risks that they foresee coming with increasing use of AI
• The exhibition closes by exploring AI’s future, asking visitors to ponder the promises and challenges ahead. Will AI become a force for good, or will it outpace human oversight? 

Bletchley Park Trust is grateful for the support and funding from the UK Government for The Age of AI exhibition. The funding was announced following the AI Safety Summit in November 2023. This is a must-see exhibition for anyone fascinated by the intersection of technology, history, and humanity.

The exhibition was designed by Easy Tiger Creative and the content was curated by Steven Swaby. Research was kindly supported by Jim Joslin in memory of John Brookes. 

Plan your visit

Entry to the The Age of AI exhibition is included with admission. Standard admission tickets to Bletchley Park act as an Annual Pass giving unlimited free returns within 12 months. Under 12s go free.

Image credit: Courtesy of Bletchley Park Trust