Google's AI powers real-time orca tracking in Vancouver Bay

Google AI today shared that it's created a model for detecting an endangered species of orca whales in the Salish Sea, a waterway between the United States and Canada. Underwater microphones situated at a dozen points in the Salish Sea that includes the state of Washington and Vancouver Bay are used to alert officials when a Southern Resident killer whale is detected. Less than 100 of these whales are thought to still be alive, according to the Center for Whale Research. The orca detection model is the latest from Google, and it follows previous acoustic AI work to detect the sound of chainsaws in rainforests to stop illegal lumber operations and work last year with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the U.S. to help protect humpback whales. The orca model runs on a platform operated by the nonprofit Rainforest Connection.