Microsoft’s new AI-powered solution aims to advance biodiversity research

Microsoft’s new AI-powered solution aims to advance biodiversity research

Microsoft

Sparrow devices will be deployed in rural areas of North and South America

Sparrow collects data via camera traps and acoustic sensors and sends the information directly to the cloud

Alice Chambers |


Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab has developed a new solution to help researchers collect biodiversity data in real time.

The solution is a solar-powered acoustic and remote recording observation watch (Sparrow), which is powered by artificial intelligence to collect data from some of the most isolated regions in the world via camera traps and acoustic sensors. Information is then processed using PyTorch-based wildlife AI models and sent directly to the cloud.

“To restore habitats, protect endangered species, and ensure long-term biodiversity, you first need to gain accurate information about our environment and the creatures that inhabit it,” said a spokesperson for AI for Good Lab. “That’s why for decades, researchers have turned to technology, including camera traps and acoustic sensors, that collect data on wildlife populations and ecosystem health.”

Between January and March 2025, several Sparrow devices will be deployed in rural areas of North and South America, including Colombia as part of Project Guacamaya that uses AI to monitor deforestation. By the end of 2025, Microsoft aims to have Sparrow devices operating on every continent.

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