How the construction of the Great Pyramid might have risen with AI

How the construction of the Great Pyramid might have risen with AI

Written by Terry Lawson on November 29, 2025 at 9:02 AM

Picture this: the bustling sands of ancient Egypt, where the earnest glow of early morning sun kisses the Great Pyramid of Giza, casting its grand shadow on a sea of workers scrambling like frenzied ants. But let’s add a touch of the 21st century to this dusty tableau: imagine if the pharaohs had hired an Artificial Intelligence consultant named Tech-nubis (what a name, right?) to streamline their pyramid project. Now, that’s a game-changer worth brewing a cup of ancient herbal tea for!

A Quick Bit of Context - History Before Tech-nubis

The Great Pyramid of Giza, constructed circa 2580 - 2560 BC for Pharaoh Khufu, stands as a timeless symbol of human ingenuity, effort, and a very sore collective back. With its impressive 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing anywhere from 2.5 to 15 tonnes, the pyramid was built over 20 years, allegedly using manpower alone. Yep, talk about muscle-bound dedication!

In evaluating this feat, one can’t help but wonder… How would things have gone down with an AI in tow? Could Tech-nubis have not just modernised, but pyramodernised the entire construction process?

AI-Fuelled Planning: The Nile Runs Smooth

First, let's chat about planning. Ancient Egyptian architects relied on their stellar skills and a fair amount of star-gazing to align the pyramid with cardinal points. With AI software like those used in today’s urban planning, alignment would be as precise as Ramses’ favourite chisel. Coupled with deep learning algorithms, even the most complex supply chain logistics of transporting colossal stones could be managed without breaking a sweat.

Picture Tech-nubis crunching numbers faster than you can say "Hieroglyphics," optimising routes along the Nile, predicting headwinds, and aiding in the procurement of essential resources. Workers could spare a few galabeyas from hyperventilating, as dynamic scheduling would ensure all efforts were in sync, avoiding bottlenecks and Pharaoh frowns.

Drones Over the Desert?

Would you be miffed if I suggested that UAVs, those buzzing technological beetles, could make an appearance over Giza? Imagine the workforce diminished by, oh, around 100,000, while drones filmed progress from the aerial sphinx’s eye view. They’d ensure every angle was spot-on and not a single corner cropped. Plus, these drones could crack the sand-savvy whip, choreographing block movements with precision rivalled only by the Nile’s own flow.

"Up, up, and away," would be the motto, as the unmanned flurry relays information back to the project foreseers. Less strain on backs, more gains for progress.

AI Speaks Labour Relief with a Robotic Roar

Now, we all know about the thousands of labourers involved, hefting stones with nothing more than ramps, simple levers, and hopes of immortal glory. Enter: AI-guided automata, mechanical marvels built to serve the Pharaoh with tireless limbs. Throw in a sprinkle of IoT connectivity, and you’d have a veritable squadron of android overseers on site, shuffling blocks into place without a hitch. The workers could all retire to invent more visionary hats!

AI could also dynamically manage manpower, measuring fatigue levels and decreasing strain. This way, there’s a healthier work-life balance, even if their bosses are as calm as Egyptian cotton.

Virtual Reality Pharaohs - Visualising the Majesty

Enter the VR headset for a stroll up-and-down each integular inch of the pyramid, long before its completion. What a gizmo for vir-actual design! Architects could literally see through walls to identify issues early, whether the slope’s gradient or whether Khufu’s royal sarcophagus seats too snugly. Imagine Pharaoh Khufu himself, sitting under the cooling breeze of a palm leaf fan, nodding in approval at this virtual marvel!

Giving the ancient builders a chance to walk through their vision using holographic projections could ensure they fine-tune every sandstone for perfection in a hurry, ‘hologram away’ so to speak.

Epilogue: The Sphinx Knows the Future

And there you have it, dear time-warped reader. AI and its silicon cohorts could have transformed the dusty sands of ancient Egypt into a modern construction site, fitting even our most extravagant blueprints of possibility. Of course, it leaves one pondering the repercussions, if nothing else, the title of ‘great’ might have faded if it were someone else doing the heavy lifting.

The Great Pyramid remains a timeless symbol of human durability and ambition, a feat unmatched by modern skyline silhouettes. We touch not to challenge history’s achievement, but to imagine alternate pasts where technology ushers imagination to new heights. Whether a Tech-nubis whispers promptings from the cloud or the Nile, the imagination still carves an everlasting gaze that stands the test of time.

Terry Lawson
Terry Lawson
Terry is a curious and imaginative writer with a passion for both history and technology. With a flair for humor, wit, and detailed storytelling, Terry paints vivid pictures of how historical figures and events might have unfolded differently if they had access to modern technology.