ChatGPT study bridges the skill gap in precision agriculture

In a new study, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture demonstrated that artificial intelligence can revolutionise agricultural education. Using ChatGPT,  the research empowered students to program microcontrollers, without prior coding experience.

Microcontrollers are small, powerful computers used to automate essential agricultural tasks such as irrigation management, climate control, and food processing. However, despite their essential role in advancing precision agriculture, coding these devices is rarely included in agricultural curricula. Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences showed that AI tools enable students without prior background to successfully program microcontrollers.

Leading the study, Don Johnson, a University Professor of agricultural education, communications, and technology, emphasised the urgent need to integrate AI into agricultural education. “Generative AI can make a big impact on agriculture. I can’t see how it wouldn’t,” Johnson stated, pointing to the technology’s ability to generate content, such as computer code, based on user prompts.

The study at a glance

The study focused on a group of undergraduate agriculture students tasked with using ChatGPT to code an Arduino microcontroller. The challenge was not simple: students had to program the microcontroller to operate a transfer pump based on sensor data. The pump should activate when the liquid level drops 8 inches below the sensor and deactivate when it rises to within 3 inches of the sensor. Despite their lack of prior coding experience, nine out of the 11 teams were able to complete the task successfully.

This research builds on Johnson’s earlier work, where students were either asked to write their own code or use ChatGPT to program an Arduino to blink LEDs in a specific sequence. The findings saw experienced coders develop greater confidence in their abilities, yet both groups achieved similar success rates and demonstrated a strong interest in further exploring coding and microcontroller applications.

Johnson highlighted that while there will always be a demand for expert programmers, AI tools like ChatGPT can make advanced technology accessible to a broader range of students. Equipping students with the necessary skills for today’s tech-driven agricultural industry will ensure that more students have the tools to tackle the challenges of modern farming. Johnson intends to extend this research by providing opportunities to design their own scenarios and solve them using AI, thereby promoting a more innovative and hands-on approach to learning.