Plants can speak using electricity, so this startup built an AI model to decipher their language
techcrunch ·
Electric Plant, a startup founded by Justin Mast and neuroscientist Lee von Kraus, has developed an AI model named Bombadil to interpret electrical signals emitted by plants. The company recently secured an $11.2 million seed round led by Onto Ventures and Climactic to bring this technology to market. Their sensors, which cost only tens of dollars compared to thousands for traditional tools, attach to plant stems via stainless steel screws to detect microvolt changes in living tissues. This data is transmitted wirelessly to the cloud, where Bombadil analyzes it to provide real-time insights on plant needs such as water or nutrient requirements. The model currently supports over 125 species, ranging from ferns and redwoods to tomatoes and dahlias, making it the most diverse biological signal model created to date. By leveraging this technology, growers can adjust irrigation and fertilization schedules precisely, potentially boosting yields while reducing water usage by at least 20%. The founders emphasize that their approach focuses on listening to plants rather than speaking to them, addressing the limitations of existing coarse monitoring tools.
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