AI in the Sky

The Encephalartos woodii is a cycad believed to be extinct in the wild. Only one specimen was discovered and it has since been propagated in botanical gardens. However, existing specimens are clones originating from this single plant and all are male. With the female specimen undiscovered AI in the Sky partakes in the search for the female using drone technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

Work-in-progress

Intensifying the Search

AI in the Sky builds from Living Dead: On the Trail of the Female (2022) that explored the use of drone aerial mapping to search for a female partner for one of the rarest plants in the world, the cycad - Encephalartos woodii (E. woodii). The survey focused on a very small portion of the forest and showed promising potential in using drone technology to locate rare and endangered species. 

AI in the Sky expands the search area and uses machine learning analysis together with synthetic data to improve how the maps are searched. The synthetic images and data created using a generative model are used to create maps and visualisations of the cycad in the search area.

Mosaic Map, Drone Mission search for the Encephalartos woodii, oNgoye Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Image: Drone
Mosaic Map, Drone Mission search for the Encephalartos woodii, oNgoye Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Image: Drone Pilot: Tim Baker, Post Processing: Debbie Jewitt, Post-Production: Laura Cinti & Howard Boland © C-LAB.

E. WOODII &

The Elusive Female

AI in the Sky focuses on a rare cycad, E. woodii, on the verge of extinction. Only one specimen has ever been found in the wild in 1895 in the oNgoye Forest. It was feared that this plant would be destroyed so it was removed but it died years later while in protective government enclosure. Luckily, few offsets from the main stem had been sent to a handful of botanical gardens before its demise.

All existing specimens are clones of this plant and, just like the last wild specimen, they are all males. Both sexes are needed for reproduction and since no female has ever been found - cloning from offsets is the only way it survives as a true species.
John Medley Wood with the Encephalartos woodii. Image from Kew Bulletin with description of plant's discovery by John Me
John Medley Wood with the Encephalartos woodii. Image from Kew Bulletin with description of plant's discovery by John Medley Wood, Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), Vol. 1914, No. 7, 1914.

IN SEARCH OF E. WOODII

oNgoye Forest, South Africa

The oNgoye Forest, where the E.woodi was discovered, is vast with many unexplored areas leaving the question:

What if a female is still out there?
Drone view, DJIMatrice 300 in flight over oNgoye Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2024. Drone Pilot: Tim Baker © C-
Drone view, DJIMatrice 300 in flight over oNgoye Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2024. Drone Pilot: Tim Baker © C-LAB.

DRONE MISSION

Expanding The Search Area

A second drone survey was undertaken on 22 January 2024 covering a larger area of the oNgoye Forest. The mission was conducted by Dr Debbie Jewitt of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Tim Baker and Neolan Munien of The Greater Together Foundation.

For the drone flight, a DJI Matrice 300 was equipped with a Micasense RedEdge-MX multispectral sensor and programmed to fly in a grid over two selected areas covering a total area of 195 acres collecting a total of 15,780 images.
Drone DJIMatrice 300 in flight over oNgoye Forest, South Africa, 2024. Photo: Debbie Jewitt © C-LAB.
Drone DJIMatrice 300 in flight over oNgoye Forest, South Africa, 2024. Photo: Debbie Jewitt © C-LAB.

Mosaic maps

Multispectral Imaging

The multispectral camera used in the drone missions captures images from five discrete wavelength bands. Each time the sensor was triggered, five photos were taken of the same area and each of them at a particular wavelength band: blue, green, red (visible to us), Red edge and Near InfraRed (invisible to us). Each band is good at distinguishing different features.

Data from the drone missions were compiled to produce an extensive collection of photos. These photos were stitched together to create mosaic maps, which were visually analysed for the presence of cycads. Each plant has its own unique spectral signature and it's hoped that this can be used to more easily spot a cycad in the forest.
Mosaic map of Drone Search for Encephalartos woodii. Drone Image: Tim Baker. Mosaic Map: Debbie Jewitt © C-LAB.
Mosaic map of Drone Search for Encephalartos woodii. Drone Image: Tim Baker. Mosaic Map: Debbie Jewitt © C-LAB.

AI object detection

Generative AI

The project’s approach to AI focuses on the visual identification of cycads. YOLO, an advanced image recognition algorithm, was used and our training dataset, enriched with manually embedded and annotated cycad images, was the foundational input for the training. For species like, E. woodii, believed to be ‘extinct in the wild’, the use of Generative AI to create ‘synthetic’ visuals and maps allowed us to incorporate cycads into various environments. By ‘introducing’ cycads into different canopy settings through synthetic imagery, we could train our AI to detect these plants. This training process includes manual labelling of our synthetic datasets, improving the model’s ability to recognise cycads within diverse ecological contexts.
Raw Data for Model Training. Image: Laura Cinti & Howard Boland © C-LAB.
Raw Data for Model Training. Image: Laura Cinti & Howard Boland © C-LAB.

Refining the AI Model

The Search Goes On…

As the project continues to evolve, the next phase focuses on refining our technological toolkit, further expanding the integration of AI methodologies and enhancing the precision of our aerial search capabilities.

AI in the Sky opens discourses around the critical issue of biodiversity loss and technology’s role in environmental conservation. The project explores how AI, sensors and simulation can provide alternative ways of interpreting the world of plants and the use of drone technology to help map and understand the environment.

Ultimately, this project confronts the reality of species loss, while nurturing a hopeful quest to find a female E. woodii</>.
AI-generated image using a diffusion model demonstrating the use of synthetic data to train AI to detect cycads. Image:
AI-generated image using a diffusion model demonstrating the use of synthetic data to train AI to detect cycads. Image: Howard Boland © C-LAB.

Visual Story

Video Mapping Installation

AI in the Sky has been exhibited as an single-channel audiovisual installation at:




It tells a visual story of the search for the rarest cycad in the world using large and detailed dynamic maps, from our drone missions, combined with the use of an AI system learning, training and interrogating the map. The story highlights the process and visually dissects the map into potential areas that could harbor the plant.
AI in the Sky (2024), SIGGRAPH 2025, Vancouver Convention Centre, Canada. Photo: Yuki Wong © 2025 ACM SIGGRAPH.
AI in the Sky (2024), SIGGRAPH 2025, Vancouver Convention Centre, Canada. Photo: Yuki Wong © 2025 ACM SIGGRAPH.

Acknowledgements

& Credits

A project by Laura Cinti in collaboration with Howard Boland and Debbie Jewitt.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Logo

Dr Debbie Jewitt, Conservation Scientist and Drone Pilot, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

Sharon Louw, District Ecologist, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

The Great Together Foundation

Tim Baker, Drone Pilot, The Greater Together Foundation.

Neolan Munien, Drone Pilot, The Greater Together Foundation.
University of Southampton Lucy Collie, PR & Communications, University of Southampton

Professor Ryan Bishop, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton

This research was later supported by a postdoctoral fellowship funded through the AHRC-DFG grant [AH/W010526/1].

University of Southampton
For more information get in touch.
Tim Baker & Neolan Munien, Drone Mission Search for Encephalartos woodii, 2024, oNgoye Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Afri
Tim Baker & Neolan Munien, Drone Mission Search for Encephalartos woodii, 2024, oNgoye Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Photo: Debbie Jewitt, © C-LAB.

AWARDS

& Nominations

SIGGRAPH 2025


Best in Show Art Gallery Award.

STARTS 2025

S+T+ARTS Prize Nomination – Grand prize of the European Commission honouring Innovation in Technology, Industry and Society stimulated by the Arts 2025.


Falling Walls 2024 Falling Walls 2024


Finalist for Art-Science Category for Falling Walls Science Summit 2024.


Coal Prize 2023 Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles Paris


Winner of the NOVA_XX Award as part of the COAL Prize (2023) in partnership with the Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles Paris.

Project Overview – 3-Minute Video

MEDIA

Selected

World’s Loneliest Plant Needs A Mate To Grow Old With, Tom Whipple, The Times (UK), 26 May 2024

AI enlisted in the hunt for female partner for lonely ancient plant, Emily Beament, Independent (UK), 28 May 2024

AI helping find 'world's loneliest plant' a partner, BBC (UK), 29 May 2024

The high-tech hunt for a lonely plant’s partner, University of Southampton (UK), 28 May 2024

Científicos buscan pareja para una planta solitaria que sobrevive desde la era de los dinosaurios, Erika Montejo, National Georgraphic (Spain), 30 May 2024

AI scant 10.000 hectare bos op zoek naar partner voor "eenzaamste plant ter wereld”, Moonray Grunewald, VRT News (Belgium), 29 May 2024

El único ejemplar de una planta casi extinta al que los científicos le buscan pareja, Redacción Ambiente, El Espectador (Colombia) 6 June 2024

Usando IA, cientistas buscam companheira para a “planta mais solitária do mundo”, Maria Clara Rossini, Superinteressante (Brazil), 8 June 2024

La ricerca di una compagna per salvare E. woodii, la pianta più sola del pianeta, Simone Valentine, Wired (Italy), 24 June 2024

La pianta più sola della Terra ha bisogno di una compagna: la stanno cercando con l'intelligenza artificiale Chiara Galletti, Corriere Della Sera (Italy), 25 June 2024

The ‘World’s Loneliest Plant’ Could Soon Find a Mate With a Little Help From A.I., Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine (USA), 25 July 2024

World's loneliest tree species can't reproduce without a mate. So AI is looking for one hidden in the forests of South Africa, Richard Pallardy, Live Science (USA/UK) 25 July 2024

Nature Briefing: Quote Of The Day, Nature Portfolio, Springer Nature, UK, 19 September 2024

Wie ein Palmfarn mit Drohnen und KI vor dem Aussterben gerettet werden soll, Stefan Mey, Der Standard (Austria), 19 January 2026
World's loneliest plant needs a mate to grow old with, Tom Whipple, The Times (UK), 26 May 2024
World's loneliest plant needs a mate to grow old with, Tom Whipple, The Times (UK), 26 May 2024
AI enlisted in the hunt for female partner for lonely ancient plant, Emily Beament, Independent (UK), 28 May 2024
AI enlisted in the hunt for female partner for lonely ancient plant, Emily Beament, Independent (UK), 28 May 2024
AI helping find 'world's loneliest plant' a partner, BBC (UK), 29 May 2024
AI helping find 'world's loneliest plant' a partner, BBC (UK), 29 May 2024
The ‘World’s Loneliest Plant’ Could Soon Find a Mate With a Little Help From A.I., Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine (USA
The ‘World’s Loneliest Plant’ Could Soon Find a Mate With a Little Help From A.I., Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine (USA), 25 July 2024
World's loneliest tree species can't reproduce without a mate. So AI is looking for one hidden in the forests of South A
World's loneliest tree species can't reproduce without a mate. So AI is looking for one hidden in the forests of South Africa, Richard Pallardy, Live Science (USA/UK) 25 July 2024
La pianta più sola della Terra ha bisogno di una compagna: la stanno cercando con l'intelligenza artificiale Chiara Gall
La pianta più sola della Terra ha bisogno di una compagna: la stanno cercando con l'intelligenza artificiale Chiara Galletti, Corriere Della Sera (Italy), 25 June 2024
Nature Briefing: Quote Of The Day, Nature Portfolio, Springer Nature, UK, 19 September 2024
Nature Briefing: Quote Of The Day, Nature Portfolio, Springer Nature, UK, 19 September 2024
Científicos buscan pareja para una planta solitaria que sobrevive desde la era de los dinosaurios, Erika Montejo, Nation
Científicos buscan pareja para una planta solitaria que sobrevive desde la era de los dinosaurios, Erika Montejo, National Georgraphic (Spain), 30 May 2024

Media

Selected

Wer weiß denn sowas?
Episode 1211, Das Erste, 5 December 2024

Esta solitaria planta busca pareja, y la IA podría ser su "celestina”
Constanza Vacas, National Geographic España, 13 June 2024

Have I Got News For You
Series 64: Episode 9, BBC (UK), 31 May 2024

What's right: AI hopes to find a mate for world's loneliest plant
ARA City Radio (Luxembourg), 30 May 2024

ARTBOX
LA7 Television Channel (Italy), 14 May 2024
Have I Got News For You, Series 64: Episode 9, BBC (UK), 31 May 2024

Talks

& Texts

The Search for the World's Loneliest Plant
TEDAI, Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna, Austria, September 2025.

Disconnections
TreeArt Festival, Villa of Toppo Florio, Buttrio, Italy July 2025

AI in the Sky</>
SIGGRAPH Art Gallery Proceedings, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2025.

In Search for the Rarest Plant: Art, Drones, and AI.</>
Leonardo. MIT Press, January 2025.

Between Absence and Presence: The Convergence of AI, Sensing Technologies, and Art</>
Plastir N°75, La Revue Transdisciplinaire de Plasticité Humaine, December 2024.

On the Hunt for the Missing Female.</>
Antennae: The Journal of Nature in Visual Culture, November 2024.


Searching for a Female Partner for the World’s ‘Loneliest’ Plant.”</>
The Conversation, June 12, 2024.

TED Talk, Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna, Austria, 2025.
TED Talk, Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna, Austria, 2025.