The news reports that AI technology was showcased at the Kern County Farm Day. Applause... or should we? To be blunt, such press releases are nothing more than clickbait. Slapping the label "AI" creates an illusion of something grand. But often, it turns out to be empty. There's a frustrating lack of concrete information about what exactly this 'new AI technology' is, what problems it solves, and how much it boosts agricultural productivity.
I'm a tech investor. I'm not a sucker who blindly pours money just because it has an 'AI' label. I need to carefully examine whether it smells like real money, how solid the design is, and if there are any backdoors. In this respect, the Farm Day case fails miserably. We don't know if it's an LLM-based solution, a simple image recognition technology, how the data is collected and processed, or even who created the AI model.
Of course, AI technology has great potential in the agricultural sector. There are various use cases, such as crop analysis using drones, soil management using sensors, and big data-based optimized planting and harvesting time prediction. However, we need to carefully examine whether these technologies actually improve the profitability of farmers, solve labor shortages, and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Looking at similar technology trends in the past, the 'smart farm' craze of the early 2010s comes to mind. At the time, smart farms with various sensors and automation equipment were also seen as an alternative to future agriculture, but they did not spread as much as expected due to huge initial investment costs, maintenance problems, and data security issues. The AI technology that appeared at Farm Day cannot rule out the possibility of following in these footsteps.
Moreover, Kern County is one of the highest agricultural producing regions in the United States. This means that a considerable level of technology is already applied. Unless the new AI technology shows superior performance compared to existing technologies and clearly presents the cost-effectiveness of the investment, farmers will not readily open their wallets.
I didn't get enough information to judge whether this technology is just for display or whether it has the potential to disruptively innovate the agricultural ecosystem. Farm Day organizers need to present more specific data and examples. Frankly, in its current state, I think it's just a fancy wrapping of 'AI'. If the Kern County Farm Day officials are reading this, please show us AI technology that truly smells like money next time. I'll be waiting.
Finally, one more thing to point out. Closed AI technology is not helpful for the future of agriculture. Data monopolies and algorithm black boxes can infringe on the autonomy of farmers and deepen technological dependence. Therefore, open data platforms and transparent algorithm development are important. Farmers should be supported so that they can directly analyze data, choose AI models that suit them, and modify them as needed. Only then can it be truly AI technology for the agricultural ecosystem.