Cultural relics embody the brilliance of civilization， preserve historical heritage， and uphold the national spirit， serving as vivid manifestations of the confidence and depth of Chinese cultural identity. These artifacts are not merely historical remnants； they are living testaments to a nation’s cultural consciousness and aesthetic achievements. In the Chinese context， such artifacts encompass a wide array of forms——ceramics， bronzes， calligraphy， painting， architecture， and intangible heritage such as folk music and traditional theater——which jointly form a rich， continuous narrative of human development and collective memory. Through their material and symbolic importance， these cultural elements reflect and reinforce a shared sense of belonging and historical continuity. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence （AI）， now empowering a broad spectrum of industries and becoming deeply integrated into everyday life， the field of cultural heritage is undergoing a fundamental transformation. This transformation is not only technical but also conceptual， redefining how we understand， protect， and interact with our cultural legacy. AI no longer functions solely as a tool for automation or computation； it now plays a central role in knowledge production， decision-making， and creative processes. These capacities are driving a paradigm shift in cultural heritage work——from reactive， static models to proactive， adaptive systems powered by data and learning. The cultural heritage sector， historically reliant on manual preservation， scholarly interpretation， and traditional dissemination methods， is currently being transformed by advanced algorithms， machine learning models， and intelligent data processing frameworks. The profound capabilities of AI——in areas such as image recognition， natural language processing （NLP）， data mining， semantic segmentation， and 3D reconstruction——are increasingly being leveraged to support the digitization， restoration， analysis， management， and public engagement of cultural heritage. These developments， driven by advancements in artificial intelligence， are poised to reshape the entire lifecycle of cultural relics—from their initial discovery and documentation to their long-term preservation and dynamic presentation to the public. The key challenge that currently arises—and forms the central concern of this paper—is the effective， responsible， and innovative application of AI within the cultural heritage field. While the potential of AI is undeniable， its implementation must be carefully aligned with the values， sensitivities， and interdisciplinary nature of cultural preservation. In particular， the complex materiality， symbolic importance， and contextual uniqueness of cultural relics demand AI approaches that are interpretable， ethical， and inclusive of human expertise. Ethical considerations， such as bias in training data， the risks of over-reliance on automated interpretations， and the protection of indigenous knowledge systems， must be at the forefront of AI deployment in cultural domains. This paper explores five critical dimensions of AI applications in the cultural heritage sector： prevention， preservation， research， management， and utilization. The five aspects collectively form a holistic framework for understanding how AI technologies can support the sustained vitality and accessibility of cultural resources. In terms of prevention， AI can play a crucial role in developing early warning systems to identify environmental changes and potential threats to cultural relics. By integrating sensor networks with AI-driven monitoring tools， institutions can proactively detect fluctuations in humidity， temperature， light exposure， and other environmental factors that may contribute to material deterioration. Additionally， predictive models based on historical data can be employed to forecast risks and guide strategic conservation efforts. For instance， machine learning algorithms have been employed in several European museums to predict mold outbreaks in organic cultural relics based on microclimatic data， enabling timely interventions. In terms of preservation， AI contributes to digital restoration， 3D reconstruction， and non-invasive diagnostics. For example， deep learning models can help reconstruct missing parts of fragmented murals or manuscripts by learning visual patterns from intact sections. Additionally， hyperspectral imaging combined with AI analysis can uncover faded texts or underdrawings that are invisible to the human eye. These technologies not only extend the physical lifespan of cultural relics but also introduce innovative approaches to virtual preservation. Some institutions are already using AI in the reconstruction of historical architecture through photogrammetry and simulation of ancient environments for educational use. In the domain of research， AI notably enhances the capabilities of scholars to extract knowledge from vast， heterogeneous datasets. Natural language processing facilitates the digitization and analysis of ancient texts， while computer vision supports the classification of cultural relics based on style， origin， and function. Semantic knowledge graphs and AI-assisted databases promote cross-referencing across disciplines and collections， fostering highly integrated and interdisciplinary research outcomes. These tools are proving essential in digital humanities projects that aim to map large cultural corpora or trace stylistic influences across time and geography. The management of cultural heritage institutions and resources also benefits substantially from AI. Intelligent information systems can optimize inventory tracking， automate metadata tagging， and streamline exhibition logistics. Recommendation systems can be tailored to guide curatorial decisions and enhance user interaction. AI can also help balance conservation needs with public access by dynamically regulating visitor flow in sensitive exhibition areas. Moreover， the integration of blockchain with AI for provenance tracking is emerging as a promising area， enhancing the security and transparency of cultural relic records. In terms of utilization， AI is reshaping how cultural heritage is accessed and experienced—particularly in education， tourism， and public engagement. Virtual museums， intelligent chatbots， augmented reality （AR）， and personalized content delivery are making cultural experiences highly interactive and accessible. AI-generated reconstructions and immersive simulations allow audiences to engage with history in immersive ways， expanding the reach of cultural heritage to new demographics and global audiences. Platforms such as Google Arts & Culture， along with various national museum initiatives， are increasingly leveraging AI for context-aware storytelling and multilingual access， making culture more inclusive and dynamic. Beyond practical applications， this paper also examines how traditional research methodologies are evolving in response to AI integration. The paper highlights the epistemological shifts occur as cultural interpretation moves from purely human-centered approaches to hybrid models that combine human expertise with computational inference. While AI presents powerful tools， it also raises critical questions about authenticity， authorship， and cultural sovereignty——especially when applied across diverse cultural contexts and communities. The co-construction of meaning between human curators and intelligent systems may enrich interpretations， but it also demands careful calibration of roles and responsibilities. Overall， the integration of AI into the field of cultural heritage presents an unprecedented opportunity and a profound responsibility. As we navigate this new landscape， balancing technological innovation and cultural sensitivity is essential， ensuring that AI serves as a tool for cultural empowerment， rather than erasure. This paper ultimately offers insights into the current landscape and future trajectory of AI in cultural heritage， advocating for collaborative， interdisciplinary efforts to harness the potential of AI while honoring the depth， diversity， and dignity of the world’s cultural legacies.