This experiment explores the potential for using machine learning to increase efficiencies in the translation of ancient languages and open new avenues for academic research. The journey began with The Hieroglyphics Initiative, a Ubisoft research project that was launched at the British Museum in September 2017 to coincide with the release of Assassin’s Creed Origins. Working with Google and development agency Psycle Interactive, the project sought to identify whether machine learning could transform the process of collating, cataloguing and understanding the written language of the Pharaohs. With the release of the Fabricius experiment, the platform and data is being released as open source for the first time in the hope that, through use, we can increase both the data available and functionality of the tools. We’re continuing to work on the tools and models as we gain more feedback and data. But Egyptian hieroglyphs are just the first stage of Fabricius.