Climate change is disrupting agriculture all over the world, impacting food security and the livelihoods of farmers. Can artificial intelligence help alleviate some of these issues, or will it further exacerbate existing inequities in places like Asia? 

University of Michigan School of Information PhD candidate Anubha Singh, an expert on the future of agriculture in India, says she’s skeptical about the use of AI for agriculture, and highlights it may not be what farmers need. 

Singh says start-up culture, which emphasizes trying out experimental technologies and “failing fast” can ultimately hurt small farmers. 

“I think these technologies end up doing a lot of harm in real-world situations,” she says. “Farms can end up losing their income for the whole season, which accrues this entire cycle of debt.” 

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Listen to “Agriculture 4.0 & the Future of Asia’s Farmers” on Code Green. 

Learn more about UMSI PhD student Anubha Singh by visiting her UMSI profile and personal website.

Check out UMSI’s PhD in Information program!