Hamid Laga: AI for Biosecurity

Professor in IT, Murdoch University delivered an insightful presentation titled "AI for Biosecurity: How AI is Harnessed to Protect Against Biological Threats." Hamid highlighted the critical role artificial intelligence plays in addressing the growing challenges of biosecurity. Drawing on his expertise and leadership within Murdoch’s AI and Computer Media Research Group, he outlined how machine learning, computer vision, and autonomous systems are being deployed to detect, manage, and mitigate biological risks.

Hamid delved into various innovative applications of AI, including species identification for environmental conservation, real-time monitoring of ecosystems, and the use of autonomous systems for surveillance and analysis. He also highlighted the challenges of processing complex datasets and the collaborative efforts needed to integrate AI tools across sectors to enhance outcomes in biosecurity. Starting with analysing and reproducing the complicated set of actions employed by athletes, we arrived at the ability to recognise the essential differences between ant species.

With a focus on practical solutions, Hamid explained how AI models and mobile applications are being developed to improve the detection of invasive species, ensure the safety of agricultural supply chains, and predict environmental changes with high accuracy. His research demonstrates the profound potential of AI to safeguard Australia's biodiversity, public health, and economy from emerging threats.

This presentation was a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of AI in protecting our ecosystems and a call to action for greater collaboration between academia, industry, and government to harness these technologies for a safer and more sustainable future.