Project: A Cultural Companion
The data and structural understanding of spatial and cultural intelligence–as well as a deeper understanding of the use cases and how customers might access and engage such intelligence–that emerges from the Intelligence Lab can become the basis for investment in the training of a large world model–or perhaps better expressed as a Large Spatio Cultural Model. The cost of training such a model would likely be quite significant and so it will be essential for it to be as broadly applicable as possible. As powering a cultural companion, it would support everything from building one’s world (physically, emotionally, narratively, financially, etc.) to engaging the broad cultural landscape of the existing world. It would help find cultural events, connect you to cultural objects, provide historical context, create plans over time, help plan and host events, support memories, and create community around shared affinities.
At the same time, such a cultural companion could support cultural engagement in situations where the cultural dimension is more ethereal. This could be in social situations that cut across diverse communities, work situations that involve collaborating and negotiating a range of styles of work, or other places where we come together as a community with diverse viewpoints and perhaps competing goals. In these cases, the cultural companion would be most effective if a wide range of those present utilized it as a resource. In such cases, it could become adept at mediating between perspective and building consensus–likely drawing on the work around Collective Image Creation we are exploring in the Power and the Culture Industry. As such, it could become an invaluable tool that could be used across a wide range of enterprises.
More broadly, such a cultural companion could play a vital role in the creation of new cultural works. This could range from drawing on past tools and techniques to the ability to actually execute ideas via spatial intelligence connected to fabrication, craftspeople, collaborators, and broader support staff. It could support logistical operations of cultural organizations, provide intelligence around product, program, and event planning, and help streamline general operations. It could also play a significant role in how cultural elements are sites in space, how they are made visible, and how they become more accessible to the general population. Together, this might help organizations better connect with audiences and create routes by which financial support can be attained and sustained. Ultimately, it could allow organizations to take greater control of their future through a new level of agency and efficiency that would otherwise have been unimaginable.
Product Documentation
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The Concept Design of a Cultural Companion outlines the vision, architecture, and interaction model for an intelligent system that learns from and supports individual and collective cultural life. It defines how AI can observe, interpret, and participate in human practices—helping people document, understand, and enrich their relationships with places, traditions, and objects. The concept establishes the theoretical and design foundation for building a digital companion that bridges personal memory, cultural continuity, and daily living.
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The Prototype of a Cultural Companion transforms the conceptual framework into a working system. It integrates generative AI, spatial understanding, and personalized cultural data to create a dynamic interface that interacts with users in context. The prototype demonstrates how a Cultural Companion can gather, interpret, and respond to lived experience—serving as both a guide and participant in the evolving cultural ecosystem of the home, neighborhood, or community.
Call to Action
The Cultural Companion represents a new kind of relationship between people, culture, and technology—a system designed not to replace human understanding but to deepen it. Our aim is to build tools that help individuals, families, and communities see, preserve, and evolve the cultural patterns that define who they are.
We invite collaborators—designers, technologists, researchers, and cultural stewards—to participate in shaping both the Concept Design and Prototype of this companion. By contributing expertise, data, stories, and perspective, you’ll help us develop an intelligent, human-centered model that can learn from and enrich everyday life across diverse contexts.
Together, we can define what a truly cultural form of artificial intelligence looks like—one that honors memory, nurtures meaning, and strengthens our collective sense of place.
