Autumn Years Winter 2023/24

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

“Artificial Intelligence” has a stigma surrounding it, for good reason. It has been talked about probably more than any other technological topic in the past year. Some will say it threatens jobs, others will say it benefits society. Putting all the debate aside as whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evil or the savior of society, here is an example of how AI can combine with existing technology to make complex processes basically automatic—and how it helped me cultivate a new hobby, gardening.

notified that it was time to refill the tank with water and food. It was that simple. Kelby controlled the light and the circulation of water to all 30 plants. After three more weeks the results were astounding. It was at that point that I also realized that the six little boxes on the light fixtures were actually cameras recording the progress of each and every plant. Kelby was recognizing each plant and putting exactly the amount of water and light each one needed to grow optimally and then sending me videos of the progress. After two or three months, there were 30 full size plants to harvest and maintain. The taste of the fresh cherry tomatoes that I could pick ten feet from my dining room table to put on my kale salad (also harvested 30 seconds before eating) was unmatched. The addition of AI to hydroponics has been a game changer, making gardening easy to do for anyone regardless of the lack of green in his or her thumb. And for me personally, it helped unlock a love for gardening and the increase in vegetables in my diet (and a decrease in plastic waste from grocery store produce). For more information on the Gardyn Hydroponics Growing System, go to: https://mygardyn.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/ articles/360051926572-Meet-Kelby-Your Smart-Gardyning-Assistant

F or many Americans whether living in big cities or small towns, accessing fresh produce can be difficult. There are several factors at play here including the increased price of produce at grocery stores, the availability of certain produce at various times of the year, and of course, the cold weather in the northeast that limits the usability of outdoor space to grow anything. Many are familiar with “hydroponics,” a water-based horticulture that involves growing plants hanging from a pot without any soil. The concept is not new (think back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World) and has been gaining popularity due to its efficient use of resources and potential for increased crop yields. With the integration of AI, hydroponic farming practices are being revolutionized, resulting in more sustainable and efficient agricultural systems. Now a new hydroponic system that incorporates AI is bringing growing produce to the next level and enabling me (a complete gardening novice) to grow pounds of my own produce in one small apartment with little to no work on my part.

Named a “Best Invention of the Year” in 2020 by Time magazine, the Gardyn Growing System is impressive for many reasons. At six feet tall, two feet wide and one foot deep, the Gardyn uses space exceptionally well. Each port on its three pipes is facing specific angles to allow for direct or indirect exposure to the two main light source LED posts that stretch the length of the system. All of this sits on a simple water tank that holds about five to-six gallons of water comfortably. No sunlight or water line required; just power and WiFi. The real magic, so to speak, is in the form of the Gardyn’s AI assistant named Kelby. Kelby, nicknamed the plant coach, is what transforms the complex art of growing vegetables into a simple process. It looks after the plants through multiple sensors (cameras, temperature, humidity and water level) and provides personalized recommendations every step of the way. Connected to my phone through an app, it told me where to place each starter plant I was sent into each of the 30 ports based on the light requirements of each species of plant. It told me how much water with which to fill the tank and when to add the plant food. Three weeks later, I was

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AUTUMN YEARS I WINTER 2023/24