In a world first, plants at Cambridge University Botanic Garden (CUBG) have been given a digital voice, as a new exhibition invites visitors to have real-time conversations with plants using AI.
Talking Plants at Cambridge University Botanic Garden. The team behind the project, from left, Kathryn Bray, Raphaella Hull, Catherine Walter and Luigi Leoni. Picture: Keith Heppell
From now until Sunday, 12 April, the exhibition Talking Plants will allow visitors to talk with 20 different plants by scanning QR codes and opening a chat-box on their mobile phone.
Each plant in the exhibition has been given its own name and distinct personality, designed to reflect aspects of its biology, history or cultural associations.
CUBG is the first botanic garden to implement this technology inspired by earlier work at the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge.
Prof Sam Brockington, curator of CUBG and professor of evolution at the University of Cambridge, said: “Plants shape our world in profound ways.
“Like all living organisms, they must acquire resources, cope with extreme conditions, reproduce, and ensure the survival of their next generation.
“Plants do all of this while remaining rooted in place, and have evolved a vast range of sophisticated solutions, even if they are often overlooked or taken for granted.”
Comments are closed.