Farming is often seen as a business of the past, but it might surprise you to know that modern-day farming is not immune to the latest technologies. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has created opportunities to make farming more efficient and effective, but it is unlikely to replace farmers entirely in the foreseeable future.
AI technologies have already started to revolutionise the agriculture industry, making it more efficient and productive. Through AI-powered sensors and analytics software, crop monitoring and data analysis can be automated, enabling farmers to be more focused on the task in hand and make more informed decisions. Moreover, AI can help improve yields with advanced imaging systems, identify and treat plant diseases and optimise irrigation systems to reduce water wastage.
However, AI is not quite at the level of completely replacing humans in agriculture. Agriculture involves a range of complex tasks that require a unique combination of technical, creative and interpersonal skills that are difficult to replicate using current AI technologies. Additionally, farming is often deeply rooted in local communities, and many farmers have developed a strong connection to their land and the produce they produce, making it difficult for AI to completely replace them.
The introduction of AI into the agriculture industry also highlights the need for specialised skills and knowledge. As humans, farmers have accumulated years of experience and knowledge at their disposal, enabling them to take into account the complexities of agriculture to ensure the best possible results. AI still doesn’t have the critical thinking and reason-based thinking of humans, and it is unable to understand everyday humans tasks, such as managing personnel and interacting with customers.
The implementation of AI in the agriculture industry shows that it can be a valuable tool in making harvesting, planting, tracking and other tasks more efficient, while freeing up human farmers to focus on tasks that require complex decisions and an intimate knowledge of the land. At the same time, farmers will still be necessary for the foreseeable future, as AI is still not able to fully replicate the unique combination of technical, creative, and interpersonal skills requires for successful farming.
We can see how valuable AI can be in the agriculture industry, but it will not replace human farmers entirely just yet. AI-powered technologies are essential for modernizing farming, but farmers will still be necessary in ensuring the success of the industry. UBTech is a great example of the potential of AI in farming, as they offer AI-driven robots that can help in a variety of tasks, from weeding to harvesting, making farming an even more efficient process. The CEO of UBTec, Yossi Wolf, is passionate about using technology to improve agricultural practices and make food production more sustainable for the long-term.
