Japan to trial AI scheme for spotting bears as attacks on humans rise | ABS-CBN
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Japan to trial AI scheme for spotting bears as attacks on humans rise
Japan to trial AI scheme for spotting bears as attacks on humans rise
Kyodo News
Published Apr 30, 2024 09:51 AM PHT
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Japanese Black Bear eating plants in the area of Mount Norikura in Gifu prefecture, Japan. Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
TOKYO — The Japanese government is planning to trial an artificial intelligence system for spotting wild bears to better deal with an increasing number of attacks by the animals on humans, a government source said Monday.
TOKYO — The Japanese government is planning to trial an artificial intelligence system for spotting wild bears to better deal with an increasing number of attacks by the animals on humans, a government source said Monday.
Under the system, AI will use security camera footage to instantly detect bears and share the information with the relevant authorities. The pilot scheme is planned to begin by summer in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan.
Under the system, AI will use security camera footage to instantly detect bears and share the information with the relevant authorities. The pilot scheme is planned to begin by summer in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan.
If found to be effective, the AI system could be rolled out to prefectures where frequent bear sightings near residential areas have been reported, the source said.
If found to be effective, the AI system could be rolled out to prefectures where frequent bear sightings near residential areas have been reported, the source said.
The plan comes in response to the 198 bear attacks on humans across 19 prefectures in the previous fiscal year, which ended in March. The incidents resulted in 219 casualties including six deaths, record highs since fiscal 2006 when comparable data became available.
The plan comes in response to the 198 bear attacks on humans across 19 prefectures in the previous fiscal year, which ended in March. The incidents resulted in 219 casualties including six deaths, record highs since fiscal 2006 when comparable data became available.
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Scarce food sources for the bears due to poor crops are believed to be behind the increased instances of bears entering human spaces.
Scarce food sources for the bears due to poor crops are believed to be behind the increased instances of bears entering human spaces.
The government has stepped up efforts to address bear attacks under a policy compiled in February, and the swift detection of the animals when they show up in urban areas as well as speedy information-sharing among police, municipalities and local hunters have been seen as key.
The government has stepped up efforts to address bear attacks under a policy compiled in February, and the swift detection of the animals when they show up in urban areas as well as speedy information-sharing among police, municipalities and local hunters have been seen as key.
The new system is expected to be helpful as it connects AI with governmental, municipal and private camera networks.
The new system is expected to be helpful as it connects AI with governmental, municipal and private camera networks.
In the trial in Toyama Prefecture, the system is expected to use cameras installed for surveillance and disaster management by the central and prefectural government facilities, as well as those used by utility companies.
In the trial in Toyama Prefecture, the system is expected to use cameras installed for surveillance and disaster management by the central and prefectural government facilities, as well as those used by utility companies.
Cooperation from private entities would allow for wider coverage around urban areas, riversides and mountainous areas.
Cooperation from private entities would allow for wider coverage around urban areas, riversides and mountainous areas.
A separate experiment to monitor bear appearances is also planned for Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan. It will involve using automatic cameras that can detect animals' movements.
A separate experiment to monitor bear appearances is also planned for Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan. It will involve using automatic cameras that can detect animals' movements.
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Trump hits out at US agency AP as 'radical left' media
Trump hits out at US agency AP as 'radical left' media
Agence France-Presse
Published Feb 21, 2025 11:57 AM PHT
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Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump dances at the end of a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 27, 2024. Angela Weiss, AFP
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WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Thursday called the Associated Press a "radical left organization" in his latest salvo in the fight over the US media mainstay's use of the Gulf of Mexico for the renamed body of water.
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Thursday called the Associated Press a "radical left organization" in his latest salvo in the fight over the US media mainstay's use of the Gulf of Mexico for the renamed body of water.
Trump in his first month in office dubbed the area the "Gulf of America" and has restricted Associated Press (AP) journalists' access to the White House until the news agency obeys his order.
Trump in his first month in office dubbed the area the "Gulf of America" and has restricted Associated Press (AP) journalists' access to the White House until the news agency obeys his order.
The White House has blocked AP journalists from Air Force One and the Oval Office, arguing that the agency was ignoring a lawful name change.
The White House has blocked AP journalists from Air Force One and the Oval Office, arguing that the agency was ignoring a lawful name change.
"We have a fight with one news organization, AP, a radical left organization — treats us all very badly — and they refuse to acknowledge that the Gulf formerly of Mexico is now called the Gulf of America," Trump said in a speech Thursday to the Republican Governor's Association in the capital Washington.
"We have a fight with one news organization, AP, a radical left organization — treats us all very badly — and they refuse to acknowledge that the Gulf formerly of Mexico is now called the Gulf of America," Trump said in a speech Thursday to the Republican Governor's Association in the capital Washington.
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"We're holding them out of any news conferences now. I'm sure they'll get sued, and maybe they'll win. Doesn't matter. It's just something that we feel strongly about," he added, without clarifying what he meant about the possible legal action.
"We're holding them out of any news conferences now. I'm sure they'll get sued, and maybe they'll win. Doesn't matter. It's just something that we feel strongly about," he added, without clarifying what he meant about the possible legal action.
The 180-year-old media organization has long been a pillar of US journalism and provides news to print, TV and radio outlets across the country.
The 180-year-old media organization has long been a pillar of US journalism and provides news to print, TV and radio outlets across the country.
In a style note last month, AP noted that "the Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years" and said Trump's executive order "only carries authority within the United States."
In a style note last month, AP noted that "the Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years" and said Trump's executive order "only carries authority within the United States."
© Agence France-Presse
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