Whale conservationist Ted Cheeseman has developed a new way for people to identify individual whales using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Cheeseman's research company, HappyWhale, allows users to upload their photos of whales onto its website. The AI software then uses adapted human facial recognition technology to identify each whale's uniquely shaped, colored, or marked tail. The software can tell users the whale's name if it has already been given one, or invite users to choose a name. It can also show users a map of everywhere the whale has been sighted. The system is free for the public to use, but commercial users are asked to pay a monthly subscription.
HappyWhale uses the data it receives from uploaded photos to track whale numbers and movements. This is part of a growing trend of conservation groups using AI to enable the public to identify animals or birds. For example, the Merlin Bird ID app developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology allows users to identify bird species by taking a photo or recording the bird's song. The AI software quickly checks Cornell's database of images or recordings and provides a match. Users are encouraged to enter additional information about the bird, such as location, size, color, and behavior, which is then added to the database to help scientists map bird populations and migratory patterns.
Another app, iNaturalist, uses AI to determine what species of animals or plants users have photographed. The AI was trained with a large number of photos for each species and continues to learn as more images are uploaded. These image recognition apps are not only helping people learn more about wildlife but also contributing to conservation efforts. By increasing knowledge and enjoyment of wildlife, these apps are sparking interest in conservation and encouraging people to protect the species they love.
In the case of HappyWhale, the whale tracking data obtained from users' photos played a crucial role in persuading members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators to reduce the maximum allowed speed of their ships to prevent whale strikes. This demonstrates the real-world impact that AI and crowdsourced data can have on wildlife conservation efforts.
Original news source: Name that whale! How AI aces animal spotting (BBC)
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π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article individually or in pairs. Then, ask them to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. They should focus on the key information and be able to explain the purpose and benefits of using AI technology for identifying individual whales.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a statement related to the article, such as "Using AI technology for wildlife conservation is a positive development." Ask each group to discuss the statement and come up with their opinions. After a few minutes, conduct a class poll to see how many students agree or disagree with each statement. Encourage students to explain their reasoning.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Provide each student with a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Ask them to choose one aspect of the article, such as the AI software or the role of crowdsourced data, and sketch a visual representation of it. After they finish their sketches, have students share their drawings with a partner and explain the connection to the article.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down a list of key vocabulary words from the article, such as "conservationist," "artificial intelligence," "facial recognition," and "crowdsourced data." Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a vocabulary word and ask them to draw a picture that represents the word. The other groups should try to guess the word based on the drawing. Encourage students to use their creativity and imagination.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. Ask them to read it individually and underline or highlight the most important information. Then, pair up the students and ask them to take turns summarizing the article in one minute or less. After each round, they should switch partners and summarize again. Repeat this activity a few times to encourage students to practice summarizing quickly and concisely.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
HappyWhale uses adapted human facial recognition technology to identify each whale's uniquely shaped, colored, or marked tail.
The AI software can tell users the whale's name if it has already been given one, or invite users to choose a name. It can also show users a map of everywhere the whale has been sighted.
HappyWhale uses the data to track whale numbers and movements.
iNaturalist is another app that uses AI technology to determine what species of animals or plants users have photographed.
The Merlin Bird ID app allows users to identify bird species by taking a photo or recording the bird's song. Users can enter additional information about the bird, such as location, size, color, and behavior, which is then added to the database to help scientists map bird populations and migratory patterns.
The iNaturalist app uses AI that was trained with a large number of photos for each species. As more images are uploaded, the AI continues to learn and improve its ability to determine the species of animals or plants in users' photos.
Image recognition apps like HappyWhale are increasing knowledge and enjoyment of wildlife, sparking interest in conservation, and encouraging people to protect the species they love.
The whale tracking data obtained from HappyWhale users' photos played a crucial role in persuading members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators to reduce the maximum allowed speed of their ships to prevent whale strikes. This demonstrates the real-world impact that AI and crowdsourced data can have on wildlife conservation efforts.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Whale conservationist Ted Cheeseman has developed a new way for people to identify individual whales using intelligence (AI) technology. Cheeseman's research company, HappyWhale, allows users to upload their photos of whales onto its website. The AI software then uses adapted facial technology to identify each whale's uniquely , colored, or marked tail. The software can tell users the whale's name if it has already been given one, or invite users to choose a name. It can also show users a map of everywhere the whale has been sighted. The system is free for the public to use, but commercial users are asked to pay a monthly subscription. HappyWhale uses the data it receives from photos to track numbers and movements. This is part of a growing trend of conservation groups using AI to enable the public to identify animals or birds. For example, the Merlin Bird ID app developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology users to identify bird species by taking a photo or recording the bird's song. The AI software quickly checks Cornell's of images or recordings and provides a . Users are encouraged to enter additional information about the bird, such as location, size, color, and behavior, which is then added to the database to help scientists map bird and migratory patterns. Another app, iNaturalist, uses AI to what species of animals or plants users have photographed. The AI was trained with a large number of for each species and continues to learn as more images are uploaded. These image recognition apps are not only helping people learn more about wildlife but also contributing to conservation efforts. By knowledge and enjoyment of wildlife, these apps are sparking interest in conservation and encouraging people to protect the species they love. In the case of HappyWhale, the whale tracking data obtained from users' photos played a crucial role in persuading of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators to the maximum allowed of their ships to prevent whale strikes. This demonstrates the real-world impact that AI and crowdsourced data can have on wildlife conservation efforts.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is the purpose of HappyWhale and how does it use artificial intelligence technology?
2. How would you feel if you were able to identify individual whales using AI technology? Why?
3. Do you think using AI technology to track whale numbers and movements is an effective method of conservation? Why or why not?
4. What are some other examples of AI technology being used for wildlife conservation?
5. Why do you think it's important for the public to be able to identify animals and birds using AI technology?
6. Do you like the idea of contributing to conservation efforts through using apps like HappyWhale or iNaturalist? Why or why not?
7. How do you think AI technology can help increase knowledge and enjoyment of wildlife?
8. What other ways can AI technology be used to protect and conserve wildlife?
9. How do you think crowdsourced data can impact wildlife conservation efforts?
10. What are some potential challenges or limitations of using AI technology for wildlife conservation?
11. How do you think AI technology can influence people's attitudes towards wildlife and conservation?
12. Do you think it's important for commercial users to pay a subscription fee for using apps like HappyWhale? Why or why not?
13. How do you think AI technology can be used to address other environmental issues besides wildlife conservation?
14. What role do you think individuals can play in wildlife conservation efforts?
15. Why do you think it's important for conservation groups to involve the public in their efforts through apps and technology?
Individual Activities
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π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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