How AI can help make busy shipping routes safer for whales

For the last few months, a tablet on the dashboard of a commuter ferry crossing San Francisco Bay has had an unusual job: warning the crew when whales are nearby. Whenever an AI-powered system detects one in front of the ferry, the tablet pings, giving the captain time to slow down or change course and avoid a collision with the 45-foot-long mammal. The system is part of a pilot that will last at least two years as researchers look for a way to address a growing problem. Until recently, gray…