Alex Kashkin

Alex Kashkin is an MIT graduate student and pioneering AI innovator redefining the field of art restoration. With a background in mechanical engineering, materials science, and semiconductor fabrication, he developed a generative AI application that restores damaged artwork with unprecedented speed and precision. His method—combining restoration masks, reversible polymers, and neural networks—has transformed a centuries-old craft into a scalable, tech-enabled process. Through his forthcoming startup, Conservation 21, Kashkin is building tools that make cultural preservation more efficient, accessible, and collaborative, positioning him as a rising leader in applied AI and heritage innovation.

Episode Summary

What happens when an MIT engineer, an AI model, and a Renaissance painting meet? In this episode of AI Realized, we explore the bold future of art restoration with Alex Kashkin, whose generative AI breakthrough is bringing damaged artwork back to life. By combining semiconductor precision with neural networks, Alex is helping museums, conservators, and collectors restore pieces that have been lost to time. The result? A new industry is being born at the crossroads of culture and computation.