When most people think about artificial intelligence (AI) technology, visions of computers and robots generally come to mind. But this technology knows no bounds, and that's why it's beginning to make its way into traditional industries such as farming.
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AI Technology To Monitor Wildlife
One of the best examples of AI technology in the farming industry is its use by farmers to monitor the level of wildlife on their land.
For example, Chirrup is an AI-powered system developed by Conrad Young. The technology functions akin to a diligent researcher, operating 24/7 to identify individual bird species from the ambient dawn chorus.
But Chirrup extends beyond the identification of birds; it uses these recordings to construct a comprehensive profile of the bird population, thereby providing valuable insights into biodiversity levels. Each recorded bird song enriches its database, continually enhancing the level of detail it can provide. Imagine the time commitment it would take for a human to accomplish the same task.
Peter Cheek, a farm manager at Godminster Farm in the U.K., has begun to use Chirrup. He sees it as a cost-effective way to routinely monitor farm diversity.
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He’s also keen on learning more about the bird species residing on his farm, believing it could provide insights into his crop health.
“Birds indicate the presence of insects which they feed on. Since we’re organic and don’t use insecticides, these birds might also be controlling harmful bugs that could damage our crops,” Cheek explained in a BBC interview.
As Chirrup continues to take in new sounds, its capability to interpret these sounds evolves.
“Interestingly, the computer isn’t actually ‘listening’ to the sound. It’s more like it’s interpreting a visual representation of the sound, a spectrogram,” Young said.
Mike Jones, who oversees innovative farm engineering projects at a center in Shepton Mallet, England, is convinced that AI is bringing about a productivity revolution in farming.
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“It’s all about harnessing this technology for the benefit of the environment and the farm business and to boost overall efficiency,” he said.
As AI becomes more mainstream, expect a growing number of industries to harness its power. If it's being used in farming, an industry that is typically change-averse, it can be employed almost anywhere.
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