Cambridge University to Host "World First" AI-Powered Plant Exhibition

Cambridge University Botanic Garden in the UK has opted for a novel way to enable visitors to interact with plants. The botanical garden is set to host an AI-enabled exhibition designed to enable two-way conversations between humans and 20 different plants.

To be hosted on February 11–12, the exhibition, titled ‘Talking Plants’, is designed for all ages, the university said in a release. The interactive exhibition is built on the expertise of the garden staff and researchers, each with distinct horticultural insights. 

The botanical garden has developed an AI chatbot that visitors can access by scanning a code. They can have voice- or text-based conversations with plants, which tell their personal stories of growth.

Here, each ‘talking plant’ has its own voice and personality traits shaped by its evolution and ecology. There’s a bold and sassy jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) that swings from the ceiling, a blunt and dramatic titan arum (Amorphophallus titanium) that likes to show off, and a supportive and caring ant plant (Myrmecodia tuberosa). 

The two-way conversations will not only include jokes and interactive sessions but also test visitors with trivia questions. There will also be suggested prompt questions to help the conversation flow. 

Professor Sam Brockington, Curator of Cambridge University Botanic Garden and Professor of Evolution at Cambridge University, said in a release, “Plants have evolved a vast range of sophisticated solutions, even if they are often overlooked or taken for granted. Talking Plants is a playful way to change that, using artificial intelligence to help visitors engage with the biology, ecology and culture of the plants. It is not replacing our human expertise, but about finding new ways to stimulate learning and wonder about the plant kingdom.”

The initiative is designed to spark questions, encourage wider knowledge adding an extra layer of engaging elements made for the visitor’s experience. “Much of how we engage with nature today is one-way, like observing, learning and admiring from a distance. The shift from learning about nature to learning from and with it encourages attentiveness, imagination, and new ways of relating to the living world. Cambridge University Botanic Garden is an ideal partner for exploring how these kinds of encounters can deepen public engagement with the plant world,” added Gal Zanir, Co-founder and CEO of Nature Perspectives, which helps connect people to the natural world.