Cows, code & common sense: Why AI still needs a human touch

Northern State crowd warned human direction remains critical as new tools for ag advance

James Koltes, an associate professor at Iowa State University, discussed artificial intelligence in agriculture at this year's Lamont Rhodes Lecture earlier this month on the campus of Northern State University. Northern State photo by Elizabeth Varin.

At the intersection of cutting-edge technology and time-honored agriculture, a clear message emerged at this year’s Lamont Rhodes Lecture: Artificial intelligence can be a powerful tool — but only with human hands on the wheel.

James Koltes, an associate professor at Iowa State University, told a crowd at Northern State University that while AI is transforming how farmers and scientists manage crops and livestock, it’s not a substitute for experience, judgment, or ethics. From sensors that detect early signs of illness in dairy cattle to drone imagery that predicts yields, Koltes said during this year’s Lamont Rhodes Lecture that AI can uncover patterns hidden in mountains of data — if used wisely.

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