Life-size holobox of Sardar Patel to mark 88th anniv of Operation Polo

The Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya will launch an AI-powered Holobox of Sardar Patel, allowing visitors to interact with a 3D avatar about his life and contributions.

The Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya will unveil a life-size AI-powered Holobox of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Wednesday, the ministry of culture announced.

Life-size holobox of Sardar Patel to mark 88th anniv of Operation Polo

“The Sangrahalaya, which presents the lives and contributions of India’s prime ministers through artefacts, archival material, and multimedia, will now allow visitors to interact with a hyper-realistic 3D avatar of Patel,” said the announcement. According to the release, the initiative will enable audiences to “pose questions and receive answers on the leader’s life, philosophies, and pivotal moments in India’s history.”

An official told HT that the process of creating the model took five to six months and that an outside vendor was employed to develop the AI system. “The model was fed Patel’s speeches, books, and other material so that the responses are given in his tone,” the official said, adding that three questions per visitor will be allowed.

The official added that while more such AI models will be set up in the future, it will take time as the technology is still new. On why a non–prime minister figure is being featured in the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, the official said, “The idea is to link the ideas of such great leaders to the ideas of the prime ministers as well. It’s more of an add-on feature to the museum.” The museum is also planning a similar Holobox of APJ Abdul Kalam.

The ministry said the launch links Patel’s role in India’s integration with the government’s efforts to blend heritage and technology under the ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ vision.