A Montreal-based company is being recognized for its artificial intelligence software that helps track whales and other marine mammals.
Whale Seeker’s software, called Möbius, was named one of the world’s top 10 AI projects for sustainable development by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Möbius analyzes aerial imagery to detect the presence of marine mammals such as whales, seals and polar bears. This allows the maritime industry to avoid conflicts and better assess where to fish and where not to fish.
On April 21st, we learned that Whale Seeker was selected by UNESCO’s International Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) as a top AI project for sustainable development.
A letter sent to Whaleseekers from IRCAI Director John Shaw Taylor said, “We would now like to work with you in preparing for your public outreach efforts.
Whale Seeker founder Emily Charlie Tissier said her team was “thrilled” to be recognized for their efforts on the world stage.
“This award is a testament to our high ethical standards and commitment to using AI to support sustainable development efforts and combat climate change,” Charlie Tissier said in a statement.
A study recently published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Marine Science found that Moebius can detect marine mammals 25 times faster than the human eye.
The results of this study show that the software was able to analyze 5,500 images in 53 hours, while the researchers performed the same task with the naked eye in 1,300 hours.
