Researcher Guido Jansen had AI grow his cucumbers. To De Gelderlander, the WUR researcher says the computer made "strange choices". "AI had come up with some kind of rule and thought it was a good idea to raise the temperature about 2 degrees in the middle of the night for an hour. That's a strange choice for growers."
Researchers from Wageningen University tested artificial intelligence (AI) in greenhouse cucumber cultivation to see if it could match or exceed human growers. The AI controlled various factors like weather, CO₂ levels, and light to optimize cucumber production. After learning from 2 million past crop data points in just two days, the AI made some odd decisions, like increasing the temperature unexpectedly, but gradually improved through trial and error.
Over four months, the AI grew about 24 cucumbers per square meter. The cucumbers tasted just as good as those grown by humans. However, the AI produced roughly 10% fewer cucumbers compared to experienced human growers. Despite this, the AI demonstrated reliability in making consistent decisions, which could potentially simplify and enhance a grower's job in the future.
While autonomous cultivation is advancing, human growers are still essential. AI systems currently lack the adaptability needed for unexpected situations. Therefore, experienced growers remain crucial for handling unforeseen issues and ensuring reliable outcomes.
Read the complete article here: De Gelderlander,