Of all the applications that AI can be used for, insect tracking is something that is most unexpected. Research and development has been done with AI to incorporate it against the ever-present issues of diseases found with mosquitoes.
In continents like Africa, mosquitoes pose a significant danger to animals and people, as their bodies often contain transmittable diseases like malaria. Warm climates and high humidity are perfect for mosquitoes to breed and survive, which makes containment difficult for places that match their needs. This is where the AI comes in, as it has been applied to track and identify mosquitoes using cameras and algorithms. The habits and patterns of these insects could potentially be predicted months ahead and provide plenty of time for preparation. With this technology, health workers can identify certain issues without the opinion of entomologists and plan accordingly. Not only that but some AI devices are also being used to trap these mosquitoes with scents to remove large amounts of them. This technology will hopefully make its way to the countries and continents that need it, while also providing enough investment and interest to improve it further.
It is easy to see the potential this technology could have with similar issues. Animals like rats and birds are also known to be carriers of diseases, so using this kind of AI to track them would further improve public health and save lives. This breakthrough is yet another example of how useful AI can be and that it should not be ignored. Given enough time, the spread of malaria and other diseases will be reduced dramatically and save the lives of millions of people worldwide.
