Artificial Intelligence and Diving

Note: Jill is away this week. She has donned her “Doctor Jill” Ph.D. hat and is presenting at two A.I. conferences in the Caribbean. After the speaking engagements she will join her long-time cave diving buddy Brian Kakuk on Abaco. Here is her article from May of 2024 when artificial intelligence was just beginning to be implemented by the diving community.

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Am I Replaceable?

• Jill Heinerth

I have tried to stay on the cutting edge of technology throughout my career. In that pursuit, I became a pioneer in rebreather diving and a keen user of edgy technologies from photogrammetry to augmented reality. People have often asked me if I fear being replaced. On the one hand, I relish the thought of technology replacing some aspects of diving, but I feel strongly that the creative aspects of my work will not be replaced.

AI is unlikely to replace scuba divers, especially in roles that require human judgment, creativity, and adaptability. AI and robotics have already made significant advances in underwater exploration and survey, but there are several factors to consider.

Current Limitations of AI in Underwater Environments

Underwater environments are complex and unpredictable. Humans are generally good at making quick decisions based on sensory input and experience, which AI struggles with within such dynamic variable settings.

I’ve worked with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and identified a few shortfalls in their performance. I recall working with an ROV in Mexico, hoping it could offer a peek into very deep cenotes and help identify cave passages or items of significance to archaeologists. On that project, I spent a lot of time doing deep dives to free the tether wrapped around rocks hundreds of feet beneath the surface. Limited battery life, difficulties in navigation and communication, and the need for real-time processing and adaptation to complex tasks made the ROV less than helpful. Far more capable AUVs seem to be solving some of those issues, but they remain out of the price range for most.

Above: Testing “Sunfish” an autonomous cave diving robot

Many tasks performed by scuba divers require fine motor skills, tactile feedback, and a level of dexterity that current AI and robotic systems cannot match. For instance, underwater archeology, marine biology research, and complex repair or maintenance tasks often require a human touch.

Current Roles of AI and Robotics in Underwater Exploration

AUVs and ROVs are excellent for large-scale survey and mapping tasks. They can cover vast areas, collect data over long periods, and operate in environments that are too dangerous for human divers. In the late 1990s, I drove the first accurate 3D sonar mapping device on a project with the US Deep Caving Team. Bill Stone’s device, Sunfish, is now a fully autonomous AI mapping device that can survey submerged places in scope, detail and accuracy that are beyond achievable by even the most advanced team of divers in the world.

AI-driven systems continuously monitor underwater conditions and collect data on water quality, temperature, marine life, and more. This is particularly useful in scientific research and environmental monitoring. Whether analyzing information from tracking tags or creating a constant stream of data on weather conditions, AI can help aggregate diverse data sets and make predictive analyses quickly.

AI and robotics already support human divers by performing preliminary exploration or handling hazardous materials, allowing divers to focus on tasks requiring human expertise. The prospects for improving the human/machine interface and making operations safer are exciting.

The Future is Exciting

While AI and robotics will continue to advance and take on more roles in underwater exploration and work, they are more likely to complement rather than replace human divers. They may be used for repetitive, dangerous or lengthy tasks while acting synergistically with human divers. Human divers’ nuanced understanding, adaptability, and expertise remain invaluable, especially for tasks that require detailed inspection, intricate manipulation, critical decision-making or artistic expression. Hopefully, AI will lead to safer, more efficient underwater operations, but I am not worried about losing my job. I’ll evolve my capabilities alongside my robot overlords!

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Jill is nominated for a 21st Century Adventurer prize. We would appreciate it if you’d CLICK HERE or on the image below to follow the link and vote for her. Thanks.

The Superbowl of Latin Pride

• From Robert McClellan

It has been a week since the Superbowl “football” championship in San Francisco. (I heard a Jamaican lady ask “Why do they call it football when they toss it around with their hands?…Can’t argue with that logic). Jill was away so I checked in and out of the game during the very boring first half. I looked forward to the halftime entertainment starring Puerto Rican global megastar Bad Bunny. (Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio). His selection by the NFL ignited a firestorm of controversy, mostly from “right leaning” political types who were quick to judge although they had never heard his music and would not recognize him if he walked up and handed them a thousand dollars. Many of them could not point out Puerto Rico on a map, and certainly seemed confused regarding the United States citizen status of Puerto Ricans. Following the lead of the US president, they feigned outrage that this immensely popular and talented man would perform in his native Spanish language at the big ‘Murican game! - In the town of “Santa Clara” a suburb of “San Francisco” in the state of “California.” Oh…the irony.

In spite of Trump’s ignorant statement that “nobody understands a word this guy is saying,” almost 50 million United States households speak Spanish. It is the second most common language in the USA, and the most common language of “The Americas,” with over 500 million native speakers in South, Central, and North America, as well as the Caribbean islands.

Just a week before the Superbowl performance, Benito “Bad Bunny” made history by winning the Album of the Year Grammy for his LP Debí Tirar Más Fotos. This marked the first time an exclusively Spanish-language album won the Recording Academy's most prestigious prize.

Above: Bad Bunny’s album cover for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. If you look closely you will notice that Ricky Martin’s segment of the halftime show re-enacted this scene.

I am somewhat familiar with Puerto Rican musical styles. I spent about a year on the beautiful island during the mid-eighties. My best friends were San Juan musicians, actors, and artists. I have a special place in my heart for Puerto Rico. My time there changed me. It is an island of colour and complexity. In some cases I was the only “Gringo” in the room and my Puerto Rican friends generously shared their passion and culture. I even learned a little “Spanglish” via osmosis. So, I looked forward to seeing the Bad Bunny halftime show. If you have not seen it in its entirety, please go to Youtube and watch it for yourself. I’d post it here but the NFL has locked it from being reposted on most websites and applications, including Substack.

Above: Together We Are America

On one of the biggest platforms afforded any entertainer, Benito chose unity over division. He showed everyone what America looks like when we’re not scared of each other. When culture is something we share, not criticize. When language is music, not something to fear. When flags from all over this hemisphere can parade across a football field together. And it all comes down to one simple thing he reminded us of:

• Love is stronger than hate. Over 135 million people received that message live in the middle of a championship football game. Billions of people around the world have seen it on social media. Now it is our turn. Go out into this crazy diverse and chaotic world and LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

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Bonus Video: If you want to see why Bad Bunny is the most popular musical artist on the planet, watch this poignant, touching video about an elderly widower who misses his dance partner - love translates in any language: