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A recent report from Kew Gardens highlights how technological advances, particularly in artificial intelligence, are revolutionizing efforts to conserve the natural world. The rapid development of AI is creating new opportunities to protect biodiversity and understand plant species better than ever before.
The “State of the World’s Plants and Fungi 2026” report, developed with input from over 400 experts across 40 countries, showcases the pivotal role technology now plays in conservation. AI tools are being used to identify difficult-to-recognize plants and even discover species previously unknown to science. Additionally, the digital analysis of specimens is being conducted on a scale never before seen, accelerating the processes of cataloguing and sharing data. For instance, Kew has digitized approximately 7.4 million specimens of plants and fungi, which, if placed end to end, would cover nearly 3,000 kilometers.
Professor Alexandre Antonelli, Kew’s executive director of science, emphasized the transformative impact of these advances: “Scientists, practitioners and anyone with a keen interest in biodiversity are now being equipped with unprecedented data and tools to learn and contribute in ways that are faster, better and more impactful than ever before.” While these technological improvements offer significant benefits, the report also points out that AI-generated identifications still need confirmation through scientific expertise. Moreover, such technology cannot replace expert judgment or solve the fundamental problems that lead to biodiversity loss.
The environmental footprint of AI is another concern noted in the report. The infrastructure required to support AI applications, including energy-demanding data centers, often consumes large amounts of electricity and sometimes water for cooling, which raises questions about sustainability. Despite these challenges, the integration of AI and digital tools represents a promising step forward in conservation science
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