IBM's AI-powered Mayflower ship crosses the Atlantic

A groundbreaking AI-powered ship designed by IBM has successfully crossed the Atlantic, albeit not quite as planned. The Mayflower – named after the ship which carried Pilgrims from Plymouth, UK to Massachusetts, US in 1620 – is a 50-foot crewless vessel that relies on AI and edge computing to navigate the often harsh and unpredictable oceans. IBM's Mayflower has been attempting to autonomously complete the voyage that its predecessor did over 400 years ago but has been beset by various problems. The initial launch was planned for June 2021 but a number of technical glitches forced the vessel to return to Plymouth. Back in April 2022, the Mayflower set off again.