Artificial intelligence identifies new Maya site in Mexico

Pietro Miotti, a Swiss computer scientist, identified a previously unmapped Maya archaeological site in Mexico using AI agents and NASA data.

Miotti initiated the project by asking an AI agent how Hiram Bingham, the explorer who discovered Machu Picchu, would approach archaeological research with modern technology. The AI suggested using LiDAR, a laser technology that maps three-dimensional land surfaces to see through dense vegetation. The discovery took less than three days to complete.

Miotti deployed 48 AI agents to analyze the LiDAR data, which allowed the software to automatically process massive areas of landscape. While the AI flagged many potential structures, the team identified one specific site that had never been excavated. Mexican authorities have responded to the report but have not yet officially confirmed the find. The government plans to conduct an investigation at the site soon to verify the existence of the ruins.