AI (Artificial Intelligence) is now the driving force that is transforming the global technological race, reshaping industries, including agriculture, with far-reaching economic and strategic impacts. Innovation in this field extends beyond research, redefining the landscape of technological leadership. A prime example is DeepSeek, the Chinese startup that has revolutionized the AI market.
DeepSeek: The Open-Source Revolution Challenging AI Giants
Founded by Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek quickly gained global attention with its highly advanced and efficient AI model, released as open source. This strategic move disrupted the entire industry, challenging tech giants like OpenAI and Google while contributing to a 17% drop in Nvidia’s stock, leading to a record $593 billion loss in market capitalization.
DeepSeek is not just another player in the AI landscape—it’s the first real competitor capable of challenging industry giants like ChatGPT and Gemini. This battle goes beyond technology, impacting critical areas such as geopolitics, cybersecurity, and intellectual property. Meanwhile, transparency concerns are rising: Microsoft and OpenAI have launched investigations into alleged misuse of their APIs by a group linked to DeepSeek.
AI is transforming agriculture: The revolution begins at CES 2025
The impact of artificial intelligence goes beyond Silicon Valley giants, reaching key sectors like agriculture. Innovations unveiled at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the world’s leading consumer electronics show held last January in the United States, showcase how AI is revolutionizing agricultural machinery with advanced automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent resource management.
John Deere: Automation and AI for the Future of Agriculture
John Deere has introduced an automation kit for tractors, featuring computer vision, high-definition cameras, and advanced AI. This system enables any tractor to be converted into an autonomous vehicle, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
Designed for the most demanding open-field applications, the autonomous version of the “9Rx” vehicle is equipped with 16 individual cameras that monitor the area around the vehicle in 360 degrees. These cameras transmit real-time images to a neural network, which classifies each pixel every 100 milliseconds, determining when the tractor should stop based on obstacle classification.
This is made possible by a second-generation AI system that recognizes various application scenarios, as well as different types of crops and terrains, ensuring the machine can handle any task. It also operates at higher speeds compared to the traditional version with an onboard operator.
The same network also monitors operational parameters, immediately transferring them to the cloud, computers, or tablets of company technicians, who can effectively monitor the tractor’s work while performing other tasks.
Kubota Katr: A Modular and Intelligent Agricultural Robot
Kubota wowed the CES 2025 audience with the Katr concept, an agricultural robot that won the “Best of Innovation” award. This compact, four-wheel-drive autonomous vehicle features a cargo platform designed to maintain stability even on rugged terrain and steep slopes.
The Katr is equipped with two hydraulic intermediate axles that are extendable and retractable, keeping the load in a horizontal position regardless of the terrain’s layout. With a transport capacity of 240 kg, the robot ensures efficient and safe operations in any agricultural setting.
Another distinctive feature of the “Katr” is its modular design, making it independent of the propulsion system. This flexibility allows the robot to be equipped with either an internal combustion engine or an electric unit, depending on its use in noise-sensitive areas or regions concerned about pollution emissions. Its compact size further enhances its maneuverability in tight spaces, allowing for easy transport in the rear of a commercial minivan or the bed of a light pickup truck.
Title: From DeepSeek to ChatGPT: AI is transforming agriculture
Author: editorial team
