Theoretical Perspectives on AI, Semiotics, and Cultural Heritage

Abstract

This theoretical article explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the semiotic analysis of visual cultural heritage. The theoretical framework combines principles from cultural heritage, cultural semiotics, AI and Sign Theory to analyze how AI can facilitate a deeper understanding of cultural symbols. It reviews prior semiotic analyses of cultural artifacts to underscore the relevance of semiotics in cultural studies and discusses how AI can enhance visual semiotic analysis by providing new methods for data processing and interpretation. Through this approach, this theoretical paper addresses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with semiotic analysis in the study of visual cultural heritage, proposing a novel framework that utilizes AI to interpret complex cultural symbols. It establishes a detailed exposition on the principles of semiotics—the study of signs and their meanings within cultural contexts—and the functionalities of AI technologies, such as machine learning and image recognition. The framework is developed to enhance the depth and accuracy of interpreting cultural symbols, which are often dense with historical and contextual significance. Through this study, we aim to advance the understanding of AI's capacity to facilitate a deeper, more accessible engagement with cultural heritage, thereby promoting a broader appreciation of the world’s cultural diversity. Thus, this paper not only contributes to academic discussions on cultural semiotics and AI but also proposes practical pathways for leveraging AI in the preservation and appreciation of global and regional cultural heritage.

Keywords:  AI, cultural semiotics, preservation, accessibility, regional cultural heritage