ChatGPT: Helping Humans Communicate with Trees

ChatGPT, a chatbot developed by OpenAI, can now help humans communicate with trees, thanks to Californian tech firm ePlant’s TreeTag device. TreeTag is a small solar-powered device attached to a tree’s trunk that has five sensors measuring light, moisture, temperature, and movement. The device records data, which is uploaded to a cloud and can be accessed through the ePlant app. The interesting aspect comes from ChatGPT’s integration, which gives trees a voice. The TreeTag app allows trees to converse with users regarding their health and provides information about what they need. This development intends to improve the experience of caring for trees and strengthen people’s emotional connection with nature. Nevertheless, this new technology is emblematic of a more significant problem for generative AI and large language models; companies are using them to create unnecessary complications. It is essential to cultivate respect towards organisms different from us, rather than anthropomorphizing them. The thought of having plants email us or use people’s behavior to start a global plant apocalypse sounds absurd. Therefore, this technology should be used cautiously.