It arrives with heat, sneaks without invitation and leaves its trace on the skin: a red mark, an insistent itching, a sleepless night. The mosquito does not need a presentation; His buzz is part of summer. Now, we share our life with another invisible being: artificial intelligence. Silent, precise, without wings or sting, has begun to fight a battle with the old enemy. And in this story, only one can stay.
The battle. A team of researchers from the University of Southern Florida, led by biologist Ryan Carney and computer engineer Sriram Chellappan, They have developed An intelligent surveillance system that uses artificial intelligence to identify, track and combat the most dangerous mosquito of the moment: Anopheles Stephensian urban vector of malaria that has already begun to expand in Africa.
A unique method. The project key is to join advanced technology with citizen participation. On the one hand, they are developing intelligent traps equipped with artificial intelligence, capable of attracting, capturing and automatically identifying mosquitoes. On the other hand, the project relies on mosquitodashboard.orga global platform released in 2022 that collects photographs of mosquitoes sent by people from their mobile phones. Thanks to a visual recognition system, the panel identifies the species and generates in real time an interactive map that helps scientists follow the trail of the most dangerous vectors.
And why? Chellappan team has developed unique algorithms capable of identifying a mosquito with only one photo, automatically recognizing its head, thorax, abdomen, wings and legs. This anatomical classification allows to distinguish species with great precision, even in challenging conditions.
As He explained To Reuters, the advance in AI has allowed to identify where the diseases carrying diseases are because then the public health authorities can go there and launch control efforts to prevent new outbreaks.
A global alert. Behind this technological deployment there is a real urgency, since mosquitoes such as the malaria transmitter are adapting and surviving in urban environments. However, there is a solution, because researchers have estimated for Reuters that smart traps could be manufactured for less than $ 150, which would facilitate their massive distribution as an early warning system in vulnerable regions.
A war with many fronts. Although artificial intelligence promises to revolutionize the fight against mosquitoes, it is not enough by itself. “It will require more than one strategy,” He has warned Entomologist Tom Mascari in statements to Reuters. Technology is a key ally, but does not replace traditional measures such as the use of repellent.
What is coming. In the next five years, the Carney and Chellappan team has planned to improve its algorithms, incorporate more species into the system and train a new generation of African scientists. The idea is that the fight against mosquito does not depend only on technology, but also on international knowledge and collaboration. And, perhaps, for the first time, the buzz of summer is not only a nuisance, but an opportunity to anticipate the enemy.
Image | USF
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