The Rise of AI in Gardening: How Technology is Transforming the Way We Care for Our Plants
The Chelsea Flower Show’s "Intelligent" Garden
Since the launch of ChatGPT at the end of 2022, AI has become increasingly prevalent in various aspects of our lives. From social media to shopping, and now, even gardening is being transformed. One such vision of AI-enabled horticulture will be on display at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Garden designer Tom Massey and architect Je Ahn will helm the Avanade "Intelligent" Garden, which uses sensors and AI to track plant welfare.
Sensing and Reacting to Plant Welfare
The garden will contain tree species with various horticultural requirements. Sensors will measure characteristics such as soil moisture, the movement of sap in tree trunks, and the amount of light filtering through canopies – "things that a human gardener wouldn’t be able to see in real time," says Massey. AI will help gardeners make sense of this data via a text interface similar to a chatbot, which visitors will be able to see on screens inside a mycelium-covered pavilion.
A Conversation with the Tree
"You’ll be able to have a conversation with the tree and say, ‘What do you need?’ or ‘How are you feeling?’" says Massey. "And the tree will respond." The idea is that this kind of data gathering and feedback makes for more efficient allocation of resources, such as water, and improves plant resilience. One in 10 urban trees dies within a year of planting, says Ahn, and by the time you notice wilting branches and crispy leaves, it may be too late.
Critics and Controversy
The garden has met with backlash before any plants have taken root. Critics balk at the idea of tech invading nature and question the overall environmental benefit, pointing to the vast amounts of energy and water needed to power AI data centers. Massey is quick to point out that the garden’s AI system is based on a small language model, trained on a focused data set, taking fewer resources than the large language models powering tools such as ChatGPT.
The Future of Horticulture
While some gardeners may give a green thumbs down to wiring up their precious plants, AI is set to become a horticultural companion without the need for such hardware. The RHS recently embarked on its Plants for Purpose project, which uses machine learning to categorize 400,000 plants based on specific environmental benefits – sequestering carbon, for example, or capturing water to help prevent flooding.
Conclusion
As Alistair Griffiths, RHS director of science, points out, all of which could be essential if we’re to help mitigate the changing climate and environmental challenges we face. Instead of thinking along the lines of the old gardening maxim "right plant, right place", we now need to be considering "right plant, for right place, for right purpose".
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the Avanade "Intelligent" Garden?
A: The garden uses sensors and AI to track plant welfare, allowing for more efficient allocation of resources and improved plant resilience.
Q: How does the AI system work?
A: The system uses a small language model, trained on a focused data set, to analyze data from sensors and provide feedback to gardeners.
Q: Are there any environmental concerns about using AI in gardening?
A: Critics have raised concerns about the energy and water needed to power AI data centers, but the garden’s AI system is designed to be resource-efficient.
Q: Is AI replacing human gardeners?
A: No, AI is meant to be a companion to human gardeners, helping them make more informed decisions and optimize their gardening practices.
