A humanoid robot has begun guiding visitors through the galleries of Palazzo Madama in Turin, northern Italy, in what organisers describe as a landmark experiment in museum technology. The robot, called R1, navigates the historic building on wheels at speeds of up to 1.5 metres per second, using built-in artificial intelligence to explain centuries-old artworks and help visitors find their way through the palace's narrow medieval and baroque corridors.
Palazzo Madama, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses the Civic Museum of Ancient Art, has been running the trial for approximately six weeks since late March 2026. The project is backed by €4 million in funding from the European Union's Digital Europe Programme, with partners including the University of Genoa and German engineering firm Robert Bosch GmbH. Engineers have equipped R1 with an array of sensors and cameras that allow it to detect and avoid obstacles, adjust its route in real time, and remap its surroundings if it becomes disoriented.
Museum officials are clear that the robot is designed to support human staff rather than replace them, particularly during peak periods when visitor numbers can surge by around 30%. Overcrowding is a persistent challenge for Italy's most-visited cultural sites, and the trial reflects a broader effort to use digital technology to improve the experience of large visitor flows without compromising the quality of engagement with the collections.
Early results appear encouraging. More than 80% of users who interacted with R1 reported positive experiences, suggesting that the public is broadly receptive to robotic assistance in cultural settings. However, the trial has also revealed limitations: a portion of visitors remain uncertain about how to interact with the machine, and some still prefer human guides when seeking detailed or nuanced explanations of artworks.
The Turin experiment is being watched closely across Europe's museum sector, where institutions are increasingly exploring technology to balance accessibility with preservation. For now, R1 represents a carefully managed pilot — one that tests not only the capabilities of the machine, but also how far visitors are willing to let artificial intelligence shape their experience of the past.