The ECHOES project—Echoes of Memory: Interactive Conversations with Holocaust Survivors through AI—recently convened for its M9 Progress Meeting on Friday, January 30, 2026, in Bucharest, Romania. This mid-point gathering served as a vital touchpoint for project partners to assess the transition from archival research and data collection to the active development of AI-driven historical narratives.

The day commenced with a powerful immersion into historical documentation at the Jewish History Museum. Partners attended the opening of the exhibition, “The First to Know: Early Documentation of the Holocaust in Romania,” which provided critical historical grounding for the digital work to follow.

Following the exhibition, the delegation moved to the National Library of Romania to begin the technical and administrative sessions of the progress meeting.

The M9 meeting focused on several work packages reaching critical milestones, with notable progress across research, methodology, content development, and AI narrative work.

As the project moves into its next phase, focus shifts to WP6, led by THL, which will advance the development of the AI personas with an emphasis on UX design and functional requirements.

Furthermore, the project’s digital presence continues to grow. Updates were shared regarding the ECHOES Website and the ongoing Gender-Sensitive & Intercultural Social Media Campaign, ensuring that the project reaches a diverse global audience as it moves toward its final deliverables.

Overall, the M9 Progress Meeting reaffirmed the consortium’s shared commitment to historical accuracy, ethical responsibility, and meaningful public engagement. With strong foundations now in place, ECHOES enters its next phase well positioned to translate research and testimony into respectful, educational interactive narratives.