The Nature of AI: Solving the Planet's Data Gap with Drew Purves

The Nature of AI: Solving the Planet's Data Gap with Drew Purves

From Google DeepMind: The Podcast by Hannah Fry

June 19, 2025 · 40 min · Episode 19

About this episode

Hannah Fry and Drew Purves discuss how AI is transforming ecological mapping and understanding of environmental health.

Could we use the sound of a coral reef to determine its health? Do we know where all the world's natural forests are? And are we on the verge of using AI to decode animal communication? In this episode, Professor Hannah Fry is joined by Drew Purves, Nature Lead at Google DeepMind. They explore how AI is helping ecologists map forests and species for the first time in history and how this data can be used to better understand the root causes of deforestation. They also explore bioaoustics and how sound is playing a pivotal role in tracking species on land and underwater —providing a powerful new way for us to understand and protect the environment.

People in this episode

Host: Hannah Fry

Guest: Drew Purves

Topics covered

  • AI
  • ecology
  • deforestation
  • bioacoustics
  • environmental protection

Keywords

  • AI
  • coral reef
  • natural forests
  • deforestation
  • bioacoustics
  • species tracking
  • environment

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Google DeepMind

Places: coral reef, natural forests, environment

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