Piecing Together an Ancient Epic Was Slow Work. Until A.I. Got Involved

Scholars have been working to piece together the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest known literary works. Using A.I., researchers have experienced an acceleration in matching fragments of the ancient poem. The text, dating over 3,000 years, has gaps due to missing tablets. Such advancements could reshape our understanding of Mesopotamian literature.

• George Smith discovered the Gilgamesh tablet in 1872.
• Epic of Gilgamesh is over 3,000 years old.
• A.I. has sped up the research process.
• About 30% of the epic is still missing.
• Cuneiform is the script used in the tablets.