Spelman Lab Developing AI To Give Anyone A Green Thumb
Spelman Lab Developing AI To Give Anyone A Green Thumb
https://www.blackenterprise.com/spelman-innovators-plantgpt-ai-hbcu-artificial-intelligence/
Publish Date: 2026-03-07 10:11:00
Source Domain: www.blackenterprise.com
- The PlantGPT project, developed at Spelman College’s Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab, combines plant sensors with artificial intelligence to provide real-time guidance for plant care.
- Led by Joy Rutledge and Temple Dees, the project aims to analyze environmental data from plants to determine their optimal growth conditions, including moisture, humidity, temperature, and light exposure.
- PlantGPT interprets sensor data using AI to produce customized recommendations for plant health, allowing users to adjust conditions like watering and sunlight based on real-time feedback.
- The project began with Grace Burch, a Spelman biology graduate, who started the prototype using Arduino hardware, and has since evolved with additional features and technical improvements.
- Currently being tested on houseplants, the team continues to refine PlantGPT’s capabilities.
- PlantGPT has received accolades, including a $1,000 award from the Center for Black Entrepreneurship and top honors in the AAAS Making & Innovation Competition, funding its ongoing development.
