French cultural innovation is stepping onto the global stage of artificial intelligence. Selected by the Office of the French President, Ask Mona is among 27 outstanding French start-ups chosen to represent France at the AI Action Summit, taking place on February 10–11, 2025, at the Grand Palais in Paris. This high-level event reflects France’s ambition to lead globally in both technological and ethical AI development.

It’s a unique opportunity to spotlight a topic often left out of AI discussions: the impact of artificial intelligence on cultural mediation and the visitor experience.

🇫🇷 When cultural AI earns its place at the top

Organized by the Elysée Palace and the Paris Peace Forum, the AI Action Summit brings together the most influential voices in the field to shape the future of AI. The list of selected start-ups includes:

• Mistral AI, a leader in language model development
• Pasqal, a pioneer in quantum computing
• Alan, a key player in digital health
• Argil (YC S24), reinventing visual creation through AI
• And Ask Mona, proudly promoting a vision for cultural artificial intelligence

At Ask Mona, we believe AI shouldn't replace humans—but rather enhance the cultural experience, facilitate discovery, and bring audiences closer to art and heritage.

“AI doesn't have to be purely utilitarian or anxiety-inducing. It can also spark wonder, tell stories, and make culture more accessible. That’s the message we’ll be sharing at the summit.”
— Marion Carré, CEO, Ask Mona

🚀 Transforming cultural experiences with AI

Despite its enormous potential, AI in culture is still underrepresented in global conversations. Ask Mona aims to change that, with applications such as:

• Interactive dialogue with visitors via cultural chatbots that answer questions about artworks and exhibitions
• Personalized cultural journeys, offering content recommendations tailored to each visitor’s interests
• Inclusive features like automatic translation, audio description, or visual recognition for low-vision users

Ask Mona builds AI-powered tools for cultural mediation, designed to enrich how we discover, understand, and interact with heritage.

🔥 A groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI and the Château de Versailles

In Spring 2025, Ask Mona, OpenAI, and the Château de Versailles will unveil a one-of-a-kind project: a voice-activated immersive experience in the château’s gardens.

Visitors will be able to scan a QR code and have real-time conversations with 20 iconic statues and fountains, learning historical anecdotes and stories in an interactive way.

• OpenAI’s Realtime technology powers the fluid, natural interactions
• Ask Mona provides validated, high-quality mediation content
• The Château de Versailles curates and selects authentic historical narratives

“This project opens up a new kind of dialogue between heritage and visitors—personal, engaging, and interactive.”
— Marion Carré, CEO, Ask Mona

Accessible until Winter 2025, the experience demonstrates how AI can bring cultural heritage to life, combining historical depth with technological innovation.

🌍 A strategic summit shaping the future of AI

Beyond the tech showcases, the AI Action Summit is a key moment for high-level dialogue:

• 🗣 Global experts will address ethical frameworks and international AI regulation
• 🚀 Start-up pitches and strategic agreements to structure the French AI ecosystem
• 🤝 Bilateral meetings with major stakeholders to build long-term collaborations

For Ask Mona, it’s a unique opportunity to show that France can lead in cultural AI, where technological innovation meets heritage excellence.

🏛️ Positioning France as a global leader in cultural AI

This summit marks a turning point for Ask Mona and for artificial intelligence in culture. In a global landscape where AI is often associated with productivity, automation, or risk, it’s crucial to highlight its transformative potential in education, emotion, and accessibility.

Through projects like the exclusive partnership with OpenAI and Versailles, Ask Mona proves that technology and culture are not opposites—they’re allies. AI can become a smart mediator, a storyteller, and a bridge between people and cultural knowledge.

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