Scientists use AI to reduce ag costs and labor
Southern land-grant scientists are utilizing artificial intelligence to help farmers save on labor costs and time through research on precision spraying, disease detection, food quality control, animal health and wheat production.
ExtensionBot, a chatbot app developed by Oklahoma State University Agriculture and the Extension Foundation, launched in September to provide the public with Extension information on community health, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development and agricultural and natural resources. Its narrative interface combined with AI technology improves accessibility and use of Extension content that currently exists online.
Another OSU app in the beginning stages of development is BudgetBot, an AI-powered adviser that simplifies decision-making for underserved, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers by providing easy access to research based information. Using advanced AI software, BudgetBot connects to structured and unstructured data sources, delivering clear, actionable insights in text and visual formats. The OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences researchers are in the testing phase of a variety of selection tools for wheat producers.
Although such tools already exist, OSU researchers are throwing AI into the mix to increase the tools’ efficiency. Wheat producers can ask questions about specific production systems and manipulate wheat harvest data to illustrate production systems.