Artificial intelligence is being used to address challenges in various sectors, including climate change, wildfires, agriculture, and health. Experts in these fields are leveraging AI technology to analyze vast data sets, identify patterns, and generate predictive models to drive meaningful change. The nonprofit Washington State Academy of Sciences recently convened a group of these experts from universities, government agencies, and industry to discuss their research and AI policy and regulations at an annual symposium held at Seattle’s Museum of Flight.
One of the panel discussions at the symposium focused on climate issues, with Deborah Gracio of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory highlighting AI’s potential to advance climate science and inform policy decisions. Benjamin Richards from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shared that there are currently more than 260 projects underway using AI within the administration, with applications ranging from predicting hazardous environmental events to numerical modeling. Projects include using AI to predict dangerous rip currents, forecast toxic levels of algal blooms, and automate surveys of commercial fish populations.
Another panel at the symposium focused on AI’s applications in agriculture, with Ananth Kalyanaraman from Washington State University’s AgAID Institute highlighting projects that are leveraging AI technology to improve farming practices. These include research into robots that can thin fruit trees, predict grape plant growth and development, and forecast water availability for crops. Kalyanaraman emphasized the importance of understanding what humans excel at and what machines excel at in order to establish an effective partnership between the two.
The symposium brought together experts from various fields to showcase how AI is being used to address pressing challenges in Washington State and beyond. By harnessing the power of AI to analyze data, identify patterns, and generate predictive models, researchers are able to drive meaningful change in climate science, agriculture, and other sectors. The use of AI in predicting hazardous environmental events, automating surveys of commercial fish populations, and improving farming practices demonstrates the potential of this technology to address complex problems and inform policy decisions.
The panel discussions at the symposium highlighted specific projects that are leveraging AI technology to address challenges in climate science and agriculture. By combining AI with coastal imagery and machine learning, researchers are able to predict dangerous rip currents with higher accuracy than human observations. In agriculture, AI is being used to develop robots that thin fruit trees, predict grape plant growth, and forecast water availability for crops. These projects exemplify the potential of AI to revolutionize how we approach climate issues, agriculture, and other complex challenges.
The symposium underscored the importance of collaboration between humans and machines in leveraging AI technology to address pressing challenges. By understanding the strengths of each, researchers can establish effective partnerships that drive meaningful change in climate science, agriculture, and other sectors. The ongoing work in AI research and application demonstrates the immense promise of this technology in informing policy decisions and driving innovative solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing society today.
