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Japan Turns to AI to Preserve Ageing Cherry Trees
The Straits Times
|April 10, 2025
Japan's famed cherry trees are getting old, but a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that assesses photos of the delicate pink-and-white flowers could help preserve them for future generations.
TOKYO -
The "sakura" (cherry blossom) season is feverishly anticipated by locals and visitors alike, with the profusion of the stunning blossoms marking the start of spring.
But many of the trees are reaching 70 to 80 years old, well beyond their prime blooming age. This means increasing costs to tend to the trees and maintain popular flowering spots.
To help the authorities identify ailing specimens, brewing giant Kirin has developed a tool called Sakura AI Camera. It tells users the condition and age of trees based on photos taken with smartphones and uploaded onto a website.
This story is from the April 10, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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