Versailles brings Molière into the age of AI
The Royal Opera of the Palace of Versailles is preparing an unprecedented theatrical experiment: in May 2026, it will host the premiere of “The Astrologer or the False Omens,” a new comedy created with the help of artificial intelligence in the unmistakable style of Molière, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to Cameroun24, the script was generated by a model from the French startup Mistral, trained on Molière’s complete works and other literary texts from the 17th century.
The story follows an astrologer whose obsession with predictions drives him to arrange a loveless marriage for his daughter. As in many of Molière’s plays, a clever maid becomes the engine of comic subversion — unmasking false prophecies and restoring justice.
According to Pierre-Marie Chauvin, Vice-President of the Sorbonne and one of the project’s curators, the AI succeeded in recreating the playwright’s sharp wit and rhythm.
To ensure accuracy and elegance, a team of scholars and dramatists reviewed the script, while AI was also used to design sets and costumes — based on paintings and sketches from the Baroque era.
The production will feature seven actors and three musicians, blending human interpretation with machine-created aesthetics. After its Versailles premiere, the play is expected to tour across Europe.
Earlier, Kazinform reported that artificial intelligence has advanced far beyond the realm of art. In Kazakhstan, AI-based assistants are already helping doctors detect strokes, breast and lung cancers, and pneumonia, showing that the technology now not only creates, but also saves lives.