AI ETHICS
Like a tech safety net
An AI-powered system is being used in the San Francisco Bay to help stop ships from hitting grey whales.
It uses thermal cameras to spot whales up to 7 kilometres away.
When the AI detects one, scientists check it first. If confirmed, nearby vessels are warned to slow down or change course.
The project includes ocean scientists, the U.S. Coast Guard, whale tracking experts and ferry companies.
One camera is already on Angel Island, with more possible sites including the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.
The system was developed by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and took around 15 years to build.
It works by spotting small temperature differences, as whales and their blowholes are slightly warmer than the surrounding water.
In brief:
AI cameras can spot whales from up to 7 kilometers away.
Scientists verify detections before ships are alerted.
The system could help protect grey whales in busy shipping areas.
A heat signature with fins
The rollout comes as more grey whales enter the bay during their migration from Alaska to Mexico.
In 2025, 21 grey whales were found dead in and around the bay, with ship strikes causing around two-fifths of those deaths.
Researchers believe some whales are entering the bay because they are hungry, as climate change is disrupting the Arctic food chain they rely on.
AI helping whales avoid cargo ships is the rare tech story where the phrase “powered by AI” does not immediately make everyone’s eye twitch.- MG