TECHNICAL | PPC112 September 2023

Stephen L Doggett is Director of Medical Entomology at NSW Health Pathology in Sydney, Australia, and Chief Editor of FAOPMA magazine. He tells PPC about his predictions for the use of AI in the pest management industry. 

“It is clear that AI is a rapidly evolving field that has the potential to transform virtually every industry and aspect of our lives.”

What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a broad field of study that deals with the development of intelligent machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as recognising speech, making decisions and understanding natural language. 

It is a rapidly evolving field that has the potential to transform virtually every industry and aspect of our lives.

AI systems can be classified into two main categories: 

Narrow or weak AI systems that are designed to perform specific tasks, such as recognising faces or playing chess. These systems are limited to the task for which they are programmed and do not have the ability to learn or adapt beyond their programmed capabilities.

General or strong AI systems have the ability to perform any intellectual task that a human can do. These systems are designed to be self-learning and adaptive, and can perform a wide range of tasks in a variety of settings. Generally AI, up until very recently, was in its early stages of development and had been limited to research and development projects.

However, this year has seen the release of a range of AI platforms that have become both very powerful and extremely useful. AI systems rely on a range of technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, computer vision and speech recognition. 

Machine learning is a subset of AI that involves teaching computers to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. 

Natural language processing involves teaching computers to understand and interpret human language, while computer vision involves teaching computers to interpret visual information.

AI has the potential to revolutionise a wide range of industries and applications, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and education. 

• In healthcare, AI systems can be used to help diagnose diseases, predict patient outcomes and improve the accuracy of medical diagnoses. 
• In finance, AI systems can be used to analyse financial data, predict market trends and make investment decisions. 
• In transportation, AI systems can be used to develop self-driving cars and improve traffic flow, while in education, AI systems can be used to personalise learning and provide feedback to teachers.

However, there are also concerns about the potential impact of AI on society, such as job displacement and the potential for AI systems to be used for malicious purposes. 

As AI continues to evolve and become more integrated into our daily lives, it will be important to consider the ethical and societal implications of its use.

It is clear that AI is a rapidly evolving field that has the potential to transform virtually every industry and aspect of our lives. AI systems rely on a range of technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing and computer vision. 

While there are concerns about the impact of AI on society, AI has the potential to create a positive impact and will continue to be an area of intense research and development in the coming years. 

AI in pest control

AI has already revolutionised various industries by providing innovative solutions to complex problems. One such industry that can benefit greatly from AI technology is pest management. 

Pest control companies face several challenges in controlling pest populations, which can cause significant economic and health-related damages. However, AI-based solutions can provide pest management companies with valuable insights, leading to more effective and efficient pest control practices.

Here are some ways in which AI can be used in the pest management industry:

Predictive analysis

One of the significant challenges in pest management is predicting where and when pests are likely to appear. AI-based systems can analyse historical data, such as weather patterns, pest infestation rates and pest behaviour, to forecast when and where a pest outbreak is likely to occur.

This information allows pest management companies to proactively take measures to prevent or control pest infestations.

Automated trapping and monitoring

Automate the monitoring of pest traps, providing real-time data on pest activity. This data allows pest management companies to react quickly to changes in pest activity, ensuring that infestations are detected and controlled early.

Additionally, AI-based systems can provide alerts when traps are full, eliminating the need for manual checking.

Targeted pest control

By analysing data on pest behaviour and habitat, AI-based systems can identify the most effective control methods for a particular pest. This approach reduces the use of chemical pesticides, which can be harmful to the environment and humans.

Remote pest monitoring

Provide remote monitoring of pest activity, allowing pest management companies to monitor pest populations without the need for physical inspections. This approach is particularly useful in areas that are difficult to access, such as attics or crawl spaces.

Pest identification

Identify pests accurately, even when they are in their larvae or nymph stage. This information allows pest management companies to determine the best course of action for controlling the pest and to identify potential infestations before they become a problem.

Customer service

Improve customer service by providing customers with real-time information on pest activity and control measures. This information improves transparency and builds trust between pest management companies and their customers.

Administrative support

AI is revolutionising administrative support in businesses by automating repetitive tasks and streamlining processes, thereby reducing working hours and allowing staff to focus on more meaningful duties.

Through natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can handle customer enquiries, schedule appointments, and provide real-time assistance.

AI assistants can provide automated feedback to Google reviews and flag negative comments for human intervention. AI can be used to transcribe customer calls, which then highlights keywords for later review.

Intelligent document processing systems extract information from various sources, reducing manual data entry and enhancing accuracy. Additionally, AI algorithms can analyse large volumes of data to generate actionable insights, aiding decision-making and optimising resource allocation.

With AI’s ability to handle administrative tasks efficiently, businesses can focus on higher-value activities, enhance productivity, and deliver improved customer experiences. It has been estimated that two thirds of occupations could be partially automated by AI.

As you can see, the use of AI in the pest management industry can provide significant benefits, including more effective pest control, reduced chemical use, improved customer service and cost savings.

As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative solutions to pest management challenges. 

Pest management companies that embrace AI-based solutions are likely to have a competitive advantage in the industry, providing high-quality service to their customers while protecting the environment.

This article originally appeared in the July 2023 issue of the FAOPMA magazine faopma.com/Pages/FAOPMA/Journals.aspx 

What do you think of AI?

Are you already using it in your pest control job? Let us know about it in a letter to the editor and we might print your response in the next issue of PPC.
hello@bpca.org.uk