The Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation on Monday unveiled the first interactive museum guide powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
This innovative initiative brings culture into a creative dialogue with AI, placing innovation at the heart of the cultural experience and reshaping how audiences discover and interact with cultural heritage.
The presentation of Tefkros to the public took place in the presence of Education Minister Dr Athina Michaelidou who welcomed the initiative and underlined the importance of using AI to enhance access to culture and preserve cultural heritage.
From a sketch to reality
Dr Yiannis Toumazis, Director of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, explained that the idea was born almost by chance:
“I was in Oslo when I saw a BBC TV interview about artificial intelligence. I discovered the speaker was a young Cypriot, Elpidoforos Anastasiou. We spoke. I described an interactive guide that could talk, answer, laugh, show surprise… and so this wonderful journey began.”
From a simple sketch and an idea came ‘Tefkros’, the first AI museum guide robot, built entirely with 3D printing.
Tefkros stands about 1.5 metres tall, weighs under 7 kg, and is clad in a reddish-brown finish with geometric motifs inspired by ancient Cypriot art. Its head features a screen that displays human expressions – smiles, curiosity, surprise –creating a more natural communication with visitors.
The name and its symbolism
The robot’s name is no accident. Tefkros (Teucer), the mythical founder of Salamis, was the hero who, after the Trojan War, reached Cyprus and founded a new city, opening a new path.
“In the same way,” Dr Toumazis noted, “today’s Tefkros opens a new chapter in showcasing and interpreting our cultural heritage, building a bridge between yesterday and tomorrow.”
A learning, conversational guide
Beyond its striking appearance, Tefkros is a learning system that evolves. It can answer questions, tailor its speech to visitors’ age and interests, and make tours interactive and personal.
Dr Toumazis stressed that it does not pull data from the internet; it operates on a closed system, fed exclusively with vetted material from the project’s scholarly team.
In the first phase, Tefkros will welcome visitors at the Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage. It will later travel to other Foundation museums and exhibitions, as well as to schools across Cyprus through specially designed educational programmes.
Cypriot innovation with global potential
According to its creator, Elpidoforos Anastasiou, Tefkros is the world’s first interactive AI museum guide designed and built entirely in Cyprus.
The development team includes archaeologist Andrea Oratiou, who enriched the system with historical knowledge and documentation, and the agency Partners, responsible for communications strategy and the project’s visual identity.
Dr Toumazis noted: “Tefkros is not only a guide. He is a storyteller, a teacher, a conversationalist. He is the face of our culture in a new era.”
Robot sister on the way
Speaking earlier in the day on Katerina Iliadi’s programme on Politis 107.6 & 97.6, the Foundation’s Director said Tefkros will soon be joined by his ‘sister’ Arsinoe, who will be based at the Pierides Archaeological Museum, allowing the two to guide audiences together through the Foundation’s museums.