New App Cryptors in the City debuts at CES 2025, blending AI and street art to reimagine heritage tourism
A new app, Cryptors in the City, has been released at CES 2025. The AI-powered platform uses augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and street art to transform cultural tourism.
Designed to connect users with historical figures through interactive experiences, the app turns cities into immersive learning spaces.
How it works
Cryptors in the City features pixelated ceramic artworks, known as Cryptors, created by artist Guillaume Mazurage. These artworks are placed at cultural landmarks, where users can scan them using a smartphone to interact with AI avatars of historical figures, such as Louis XIV or Edith Piaf.
Each avatar provides educational content, including quizzes, stories, and challenges, tailored to the user’s interactions. High scores unlock additional conversational AI features, allowing users to engage more deeply with the historical figure’s personality and knowledge.
Guillaume Mazurage, Artistic Director and co-founder, stated:
“With Cryptors in the City, history and heritage become an interactive and visual playground. By reimagining these historical figures through a fresh lens, my goal was to break them out of their traditional frames and make them accessible through codes familiar to younger generations.”
Bridging technology and culture
The app addresses challenges in preserving cultural heritage while engaging younger audiences. Cryptors in the City collaborates with municipalities, tourism offices, and cultural institutions to enhance the accessibility of historical landmarks and encourage exploration.
Louis de Carolis, President and co-founder, highlighted the app’s objectives:
“Our app acts as a bridge between heritage and digital innovation, turning smartphones into tools for exploring sites, monuments, and cities. It’s an experience to be enjoyed solo, with friends, or as a family.”
About Cryptors in the City
Founded in 2023, Cryptors in the City was established by three partners: Louis de Carolis, a lawyer specializing in cultural industries; Guillaume Mazurage, a comic and pixel artist; and Florent de Carolis, an expert in digital heritage promotion.
Based in Paris, the company leverages a strong network of institutional and local support, including partnerships with the Château de Cheverny, the municipalities of Deauville and Cabourg, and the Île-de-France region.
The app’s developers are preparing a fundraising campaign to expand its features and reach. Planned developments include augmented reality integration, rollout to additional French cities, and international market entry. New augmented reality features will overlay immersive elements onto real-world settings, enriching the cultural tourism experience.
Cryptors in the City is free to use, multilingual, and available on all major app stores.
