Olin Pickens, a 102-year-old World War II veteran, sat in his wheelchair at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, facing a life-sized image of himself on a screen. Through artificial intelligence, visitors can now hold virtual conversations with images of veterans like Pickens, who was taken prisoner by German soldiers during the war. Pickens vividly recalled being given "sauerkraut soup" by his captors before embarking on a grueling march after being captured in Tunisia in 1943.

The Voices From the Front exhibit also features war-era home front heroes and supporters of the U.S. war effort, allowing visitors to ask questions of military nurses, aircraft factory workers, and even Margaret Kerry, who served as a model for the Tinker Bell character in Disney productions. The project, four years in the making, incorporates video-recorded interviews with 18 veterans and support personnel, each answering up to a thousand questions about their experiences during the war.

The interactive exhibit is a way to personalize the experience of visiting the museum, especially as the number of aging veterans dwindles. Veterans like Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Wilson, a Medal of Honor winner who fought at Iwo Jima, have participated in the project before their passing. The technology allows visitors to stand in front of a console and choose who they want to converse with, with a life-sized image of the chosen veteran appearing on a screen to respond to questions.

While the technology isn't perfect and there may be some lag time in responses, the AI mechanism can learn and improve as more questions are asked. The exhibit was unveiled as part of the opening of the museum's new Malcolm S. Forbes Rare and Iconic Artifacts Gallery, named after an infantry machine gunner who fought on the front lines in Europe. The gallery features artifacts such as Forbes' Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and a blood-stained jacket he wore when wounded. As the number of World War II veterans dwindles, projects like Voices From the Front provide a way for future generations to interact with and learn from these heroes.