Will Automation And AI Destroy Jobs In The Cannabis Industry?

In the context of computer science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), is a combination of systems or algorithms - a finite set of instructions that enable problem-solving and computation, that can mimic human intelligence, perform tasks, and learn as they go from the information they collect.

A.I. and machine learning technologies are being developed for use in the cannabis sector to comply with regulations, mitigate risks, monitor operations, improve cannabis and soil health, and product quality, and streamline supply chains.

A.I. can assist cannabis operators in choosing the best time to grow and suggest the optimal nutrients to apply to increase yield quality and quantity, and reduce waste, minimizing negative environmental impacts.

A.I. can also assist cannabis users, in identifying the most adequate strains and products, improving cannabis end-products, restocking shelves efficiently, and identifying buyer personas.

However, I.A. technology is not available to all. On top of the costs of adoption, there is a lack of open, clean, data to build these systems. Moreover, cannabis workers' skills need to adapt to the use of A.I. and funds need to be directed toward critical infrastructure that supports the upgrade of the cannabis supply chain.

Capacity-Building In The Cannabis Workforce

We might argue that A.I. is inevitable and can ‘release’ workers to tasks other than manual labor. But, are they ready for this change? Then, the question is not whether jobs are going to be lost, but rather, how we train cannabis producers to work with these tools and, remain in the business. 

The need for people with AI skills is expected to increase rapidly in the next years, leading to a requirement for workers to learn new technical abilities. In a survey conducted in 2021, 69% of higher education educators and IT decision-makers reported an increasing demand from employers for AI technical skills among graduates.

However, despite the rising demand for AI education in community colleges, only 45% of respondents confirmed that their school provided any AI technical courses. To improve AI instruction, community college respondents suggested that the most significant benefit would come from increased industry support for professional development, followed by additional funding and assistance to obtain computing resources.

A.I. Training Programs In The U.S.

Currently, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) is investing in AI programs to advance the ability of computer systems to perform tasks that have traditionally required human intelligence in agriculture and food production.

For example, The USDA-NIFA AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture (AIIRA), is investing in a project by Iowa State University, that seeks to transform agriculture through innovative AI. In addition, AIIRA seeks to power education and workforce development through formal and informal educational activities, “focusing on Native American bidirectional engagement and farmer programs; and drive knowledge transfer through partnerships with industry, producers, and federal and state agencies.”

Oregon State University College of Engineering is collaborating on the $20 million federal project called AgAID Institute, along with other researchers. The Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute, hosted by Oregon State, is a leading national robotics program that includes over 25 faculty and 180 graduate students.

Furthermore, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is utilizing AI, to safeguard crop yields and the environment. UF/IFAS plans to construct a 19,000-square-foot AI hub at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm, located about 25 miles southeast of Tampa, to accelerate innovation in the State.

A.I. Training Partnerships: An Alternative?

Ok, we might argue that cannabis is federally illegal and might obstruct cannabis workers from participating in federally funded A.I. courses and training.

But what about hemp? And what about private collaborations between cannabis unions, state governments, and 420-friendly tech companies like Amazon or Twitter? Could this be possible?

These are some of the issues to be discussed during the next Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, including the use of AI in the industry and the possibilities attached to it, such as streamlining cannabis supply chains, global integration, data processing, and niche branding.

Do you want to stay on top of the AI game in cannabis? Join us in April at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference and stay at Miami Beach’s historic Fontainebleau Hotel. Are you ready? Buy your tickets HERE before prices go up.

Photo by Kevin Ku on Unsplash.