What Do Chat GPT and Other Language Learning Models Mean for Agronomic Advisers?
Can artificial intelligence replace agronomic advisers? Or perhaps even more relevant to the developments around Chat GPT and other Language Learning Models (LLM), how quickly can these technologies augment the work being done by agronomic advisers?
In his newsletter, Software is Feeding the World, Rhishi Pethe explores how LLMs have already “passed” several accreditation and entrance exams, and how could this technology apply to the Certified Crop Adviser program.
“So an obvious question one might ask is whether the Latest Language Models can replace CCAs?” he wrote.
The takeaway of his analysis is while no one exactly knows where development of LLMs will lead, a very likely outcome is the technology will change how particular jobs are done today, especially repetitive or predictive tasks.
Shane Thomas has also explored this topic in his Upstream Ag Insights, and he shares his own experience with trying out the technology specifically asking ag related questions.
Thomas says the tech has shortcomings and highlights these three:
- Results aren’t true or have no basis
- Answers lack references and don’t address the underlying answer
- It requires multiple, specific prompts to receive a relevant reply
As time passes, usage increases, and the technology is further developed, Thomas is bullish on how AI can be used in agriculture.
“I think the agriculture industry has the potential to become more efficient and deliver better outcomes to farms through basic LLMs—not even considering what potential breakthroughs will come,” Thomas said.
Farmers Business Network has launched its own AI-based agronomic adviser, branded as Norm. It’s currently available to FBN members with a beta launch. The company says it built this tool based on ChatGPT 3.5 and its own data science team added information specifically to address agricultural and agronomic questions.
Related:
To write his weekly commentary for "U.S. Farm Report" this past weekend, John Phipps used ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. Everything except the first line in the story below is a product of ChatGPT. Read it here.
