If trees could talk, what would they say? Apparently they’re more likely to say ‘I need water’ and ‘the air pollution here is getting bad’ than the ancient wisdom we’d all hoped for.
It’s thanks to designers Tom Massey and Je Ahn that we’ve got the above answer. They’ve been working on pioneering ‘talking trees’, which use AI to communicate trees’ needs to horticulturalists, hopefully allowing them to live longer, healthier lives. The technology will make its world debut next week at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which runs between May 20-25.
With this new ‘TreeTalk’ system, developed in collaboration with tech consultants Avanade, gardeners will be able to directly ask the trees how they are feeling, and if they need anything in particular. Gone are the days when striking up a conversation with a tree would get you a few sideways looks and a concerned call from your mum – now it’s actively helpful to find out what’s going on behind the bark.
After the Chelsea Flower Show, TreeTalk will be installed as part of a major expansion at Mayfield Park in Manchester, which one expert described as the ‘park of the future’. It’s the first park to be built in the centre of Manchester in over a century, so it makes sense that it’s the first to welcome this new, experimental technology.
Danny Williams, who is the Estates Manager at Mayfield, has said that the park is ‘proud to be at the forefront of innovation’, and that ‘this collaboration with Avanade marks an exciting step… allowing us to harness cutting-edge technology to enhance biodiversity, improve resilience, and ensure Mayfield remains a thriving, beautiful space’.
How do AI trees work?
Obviously, these trees aren’t logging into ChatGPT to report their feelings. Instead, sensors have been fixed to them to measure various environmental factors such as soil conditions, the weather, how much the tree is growing, air quality, and more. All of this information is then fed to an AI bot which analyses the data and converts it into simple to understand language, as well as making recommendations and noting any trends that caretakers should be aware of.
There will even be an app which you can download and chat to the trees yourself. You’ll be able to ask them how they’re doing, how much they’re growing, and any other other plant-related queries you might have.
Why might AI talking trees be helpful?
If custodians are more aware of what their trees are lacking, they will be able to fix problems much earlier, ensuring the trees remain stronger for longer. According to Tom Massey, one half of the duo behind the scheme, ‘Urban trees are some of our most powerful allies in tackling climate change… But they’re constantly under pressure, and too many don’t survive long enough to deliver their full value.
‘By combining smart, responsive technology with human stewardship, our aim is to give trees the best possible chance - not just to survive, but to thrive for generations to come.’
Are there AI tree parks anywhere else in the world?
While there are AI apps and softwares designed to help gardeners already, this is the first full-scale park which will support artificial intelligence. The technology at this scale is a world-first, which means we don’t know exactly how well it will or won’t work. Hopefully, in the long run it will lead to loads more healthy trees in our cities and parks, as there are already hopes to expand should the scheme be successful at Mayfield.
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