Ted Cheeseman, a whale conservationist, concedes that the massive creatures do not calmly stay still for photographs.
He states that on most whale-watching trips, you only catch a glimpse of the whale for a short amount of time, comprising only 2% of the experience.
Despite this, attempting to find a whale by sailing remains highly sought-after.
Around the world, an estimated 13 million people engage in whale watching annually, with the industry said to be valued at $2.1bn (£1.7bn).
Humpback whales are the centre of attention in the whale-watching industry since they are plentiful and spend a lot of time near the water's surface. According to Mr Cheeseman, they are "very engaging" making whale-watchers’ experiences even more enjoyable when they come across a breach (where the whale jumps out of the water) or a flick of the tail.
Mr Cheesman's research company, HappyWhale, provides people with the opportunity to feel a stronger bond to whales by allowing users to upload photos onto its website.
HappyWhale's AI software rapidly searches through its database of over 70,000 whales in order to accurately identify the whale that the observer is viewing.
It will let you know the name of the whale if it has been named already, and give you the opportunity to name it if it hasn't. Additionally, if the whale is one that has been recorded before, it will provide a map of where it has been sighted.
This AI utilizes an altered human facial recognition program to spot each whale's tail which is distinctively shaped, coloured, or marked.
Mr Cheeseman stated that the AI is so efficient that it can identify a whale even when its tail is rotated, curved, or in the process of submerging, despite not needing its tail to remain stationary or extended.
Members of the public can use the "WhaleID" system for free, however, whale watching operators and cruise ships are required to pay a monthly subscription.
Mr Cheeseman comments that they charge for commercial use of the mobile app due to how great it is for guides from whale watch companies and expedition cruise operators to have the ability to quickly recognize a whale and share its story.
This increases worth, stimulating excitement, and allowing the guide to deliver an accurate account of the whales they are encountering, in a manner that forms a strong bond with whale observers.
Happywhale, based in Oregon, is part of the increasing number of conservation groups utilizing AI to enable citizens to recognize whales or birds. As a result, these organizations are given a wealth of data raised through public submission of images. The organization utilizes the data they receive from the uploaded photos to monitor the amount and activity of whales.
The Merlin Bird ID app, created by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University in New York State, offers users an easy way to identify the bird they are seeing or hearing. After taking a picture of the bird or recording its song, the app will provide the species' name.
Afterward, AI software swiftly examines Cornell's digital archive, the Macaulay Library, containing images and recordings, and delivers a match.
"The main aim of Merlin was to help novice birders," states Alli Smith, who is the Merlin project coordinator. In North America alone, there is an abundance of approximately 700 distinct species of birds which can be encountered - a daunting prospect.
The AI employed for the database of bird sounds works by transforming the recording into a spectrogram or data waveform and comparing it to those already in the system.
Merlin Bird users are invited to input information about their location, along with details such as the bird's size, colour, and behaviour. This information is then included in the Macaulay Library, allowing scientists to take advantage of it in order to map out bird populations, ranges, and migratory patterns, as well as comprehend any changes that may occur.
Ms Smith points out that bird populations have dwindled worldwide, however, in the last half century, the US and Canada lost a total of three billion birds. Additionally, this occurrence is the first occasion it has been monitored in real time.
iNaturalist began as a social network wherein members could share pictures of plants and animals, with the community working to determine the subjects of the images.
At present, AI is being utilized to figure out what people have taken pictures of. Initially, the AI was taught with over one hundred pictures for each species, and the learning process is ongoing as additional images are added.
Grant Van Horn, an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and one of the developers of the app, states that the AI is on the lookout for certain visual "patterns".
He mentions that after teaching the model to distinguish between a chipmunk or squirrel in a photograph, the computer begins to search for resemblances in a related image. According to the patterns found, it can then guess if it is either a chipmunk, a squirrel, or something else.
Check out more stories about artificial intelligence.
According to Wayne Klockner, executive director of American Birding Association -- a US birdwatching organisation -- image recognition apps are significantly contributing to conservation initiatives.
He maintains that any tools that help birdwatchers gain more understanding are advantageous, since the enthusiasm and delight generated from such study leads to a strengthened commitment to preservation. He believes that the use of AI in this effort can only benefit birds.
At HappyWhale, it is noted that the whale tracking information they obtained from people's images was essential in convincing members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators to minimize the top speed authorized for their vessels so as to avoid collisions with whales.
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