Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a household term for most, even if said household may not have a deep grasp on what it is. Blockchain, on the other hand, is an emerging technology revolving around data storage and data analytics and though it’s a bit less mainstream, it is starting to be used quite widely as well.
AI became popular due to videogames, and blockchain gained its fame as being the safe and secure way to make cryptocurrency transactions like with the popular Bitcoin. Now, both sciences are being used for social good in many different ways, and this article will detail a few ways they can help get animals off of the endangered species list, and prevent new species from being added to it.
Blockchain
Blockchain technology was originally created as a way to keep transparent transactions relative to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The name is actually quite on point, as each transaction is considered a block in the chain that is the public database of cryptocurrency transactions. These blocks store the time of the transaction, as well as the price rendered and the parties involved. All of these aspects are hidden behind digital signatures in order to keep any identifying information private on the otherwise publicly viewable transaction.
Artificial Intelligence
This one is easier to explain and understand, and most folks have a baseline understanding of AI anyway. Simply put, it’s the brains inside of computers. Computer programming is so developed that machines now think using algorithms surrounding the aptly named process of machine learning. Like any new technology, machine learning and blockchain can be manipulated when in the wrong hands, but the possibilities for good are endless, when in the right hands!
How?
A large part of studying endangered species is observation and check ins to see what kinds of progress or issues a given animal may be experiencing. For a long time, tracking devices were only able to do just that, track the animals, and were ugly and, even the smallest, were unnatural to the animals, even though they were used for all the right reasons. AI can now be programmed into the smallest tracking devices to garner predictive analysis on where the animals may travel, as well as tracking interactions between two members of the same species.
Facial recognition software certainly has it’s negative aspects, including being a tool used by police officers to spy on people, but the same software can be used to track animals, as well. A series of cameras at a common feeding area, for instance, can recognize animals that return, and research can be conducted regarding their feeding habits and general distances and times spent away from food.
Poaching can also be combatted with AI, and one really cool example is tied to communication practices. With machine learning, scientists are able to utilize recordings of elephant communication to determine what kinds of noises and interactions are made when the group or individual has experienced an interaction with a poacher. Using this, local poaching enforcement can have a warning, kind of like seismic charts can help people prepare for an earthquake.
Blockchain tech is a little more indirect, but the monitoring of animals is still centric to the reasons it helps out. Previously, there has been skepticism revolving around public displays of animal tracking, as poachers can use the information against the animals. With blockchain, however, relaying information can be super secure, which allows for things like drones, and the aforementioned tracking devices to send their information back to the good guys without fear of it being intercepted and used by poachers.
Work to Do
There is still a lot of work to do to help lower the number of species on the endangered species list, but people power coupled with technology can get the job done!
