Caesar Speaks Again: Bringing Historical Characters to Life using AI-Driven Avatars for Immersive Cultural Heritage in AR

We discuss the design and evaluation of a mobile Augmented Reality (AR) application, called Living Exhibitions, that enables users to engage in real-time conversations with historically grounded digital avatars, powered by conversational AI. The rising adoption of digital technologies has transformed how museums engage with their visitors, moving away from static exhibitions towards more dynamic and immersive experiences. We present findings from a survey and a user study to explore engagement, trust, historical accuracy, and interaction with AI technologies. Based on the study findings, we discuss opportunities for AI-driven heritage applications, including transparency of AI behaviour, education, engaging interaction, and acceptance.