In the 1930s, there were around 6.8 million farms in the United States. The size averaged at around 155 acres. Over the next several decades, the number of farms rapidly declined to around 1.9 million in 2023. Those farms grew larger, averaging around 464 acres.

As farming has changed over time, experts believe artificial intelligence (AI) can help farmers and producers make food faster and more efficiently.

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“I think there’s a lot of potential for both increasing productivity on the crop side, but also for reducing the amount of resources that we use on the productivity side. There’s the data that we can actually collect to increase yields and improve the nutritional quality. But then there’s also the facilitate facilitating of reductions in labor availability,” said Mason Earles, an assistant professor at UC Davis in the departments of Viticulture & Enology and Biological & Agricultural Engineering and researcher at the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems or AIFS.

The most recent data shows 41% of farmers reported labor shortages in 2018. That’s a 27% increase from those reporting shortages in 2014. The trend is expected to continue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 2% decline in workers through 2033 despite the number of job openings remaining the same.

“We do more with less. It’s not that it has no set way and has totally changed the traditional work, it is empowering, and it is increasing the productivity of existing workers,” said Ilias Tagkopoulos, a computer science professor at UC Davis and the director of AIFS.

AIFS is funded through a grant from the USDA Institute of Food and Agriculture. It is part of USDA’s effort to conduct more research on utilizing Artificial Intelligence in agriculture.

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“One of the big things that I specifically focus on, and we work at the Institute for Food Systems is trying to say, how can I make an impact in agriculture and food systems across the board? Whether that has to do with production of different types of vegetables, fruits, nuts, other types of meats or other types of foods,” Earles said. “There’s a lot of potential, we think, all the way from going from the research and lab side through startups, through corporate innovation. And we’re here to kind of find a way to facilitate and integrate that along the way.”

A USDA study shows just 27% of farmers are using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence. Investment is expected to grow across the industry from more than $2 billion this year to more than $5 in 2028.

A USDA study shows just 27% of farmers are using emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.  (AI Institute For Next Generation Food Systems)

“What our vision is, is how can we have a healthier society and a more sustainable planet? Our mission is to leverage AI to build that, to help towards that goal,” Tagkopoulos said. “AI is doing two things. One is making businesses more productive. And the second is to accelerate innovation. It accelerates innovation by actually focusing on what matters versus what’s out there.”

Researchers are looking into how AI hardware like sensors or robotics can better gather data in the field.

“One of the powers of AI is that it can process a massive amount of data in a very short amount of time and achieve really high performance in pattern recognition,” Earles said.

The technology can help farmers decide where to apply fertilizer and when the best opportunities for harvest might be.

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“There’s great examples out there of being able to process millions of images within the course of every hour to identify where there might be damage due to weeds, presence of weeds or disease or pest, and be able to use various types of either implements to precisely remove those weeds or pests so that the farmer see higher yields. And the consumer sees better fruit, veggies and other products that are coming out of those fields,” Earles said.

One USDA project at the University of Arkansas is looking at using virtual reality to process poultry. Researchers will study whether robots can be used in the field while workers control the devices virtually. While fewer workers are expected to be needed, the cost of the equipment is high.

Researchers are looking into how AI hardware like sensors or robotics can better gather data in the field of farming. (AI Institute For Next Generation Food Systems)

“The question there is how can you make this technology even more cost-effective and the even more practical, which is always a challenge,” Tagkopoulos said.

Controlled environments or indoor farming also see high upfront costs. But some studies have shown that higher crop yields are possible because of fewer weather-related challenges and the ability to grow year-round.

“We see in the future more data being generated, more tools becoming available, easier, much less expensive in terms of AI tools to be able to give recommendations on when to irrigate, when to farm, where to sell. A lot of more collaboration among farmers because now they understand more that they need to share their data. And it’s not about competition. It’s about everybody winning out of it,” Tagkopoulos said.

Controlled environments have received a lot of funding in the past few years. The USDA recently broke ground on a project at Cornell University to research grapes. The National Grape Improvement Center will help scientists study climate adaptable grape varieties and management strategies for growers.

“The opportunity to grow fruits and veggies and other types of crops where they may not otherwise be able to grow has huge potential for delivering all sorts of foods, fresh foods and nutritious foods to urban and or other areas,” Earles said. “AI has the real potential to help us understand how to regulate those types of indoor climates so that it can optimize the output.”

Black Friday wouldn’t be Black Friday without a deluge of TV deals. And while we wouldn’t exactly recommend the second-rate models lining the Sunday circulars, there are plenty of TVs already on offer for Black Friday that deliver a satisfying viewing experience and solid feature set — whether you plan on gaming, watching sports, or catching up on the latest TV shows and movies.

Several of the best OLED models are currently sitting at or near all-time low prices right now, including the excellent LG C4 and Sony A95L QD-OLED, the latter of which a panel of judges (including our own Nilay Patel) voted as the veritable “King of TV.” Below, we’re also highlighting briefcase TVs, solid midrange picks under $1,000 like the 65-inch TCL QM85 (which has tons of features for the price), and even dirt-cheap sets — including a $70 32-inch Insignia TV that would work just fine for a garage or kitchen.

Many of us use Spotify every day, whether to listen to songs, podcasts or audiobooks. Some of us create playlists of our favorite songs, while others save playlists made by others. 

In case you didn’t know, Spotify allows you to create public playlists that anyone can save and listen to. You’d think this is a harmless feature, but spammers have found a way to misuse it. 

They’re using Spotify playlists and podcasts to push pirated software, game cheat codes, spam links and malware sites. I’ll discuss the details of this emerging online scam and share tips on how to stay safe.

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How the Spotify scam works

As reported by BleepingComputer, this scam works by misusing Spotify’s popularity and trustworthiness. Scammers exploit Spotify playlists by injecting targeted keywords, such as “free download,” “crack” or “warez,” into titles and descriptions. 

These keywords are designed to align with popular search terms. Since Spotify’s web player pages are indexed by search engines like Google, these spammy results appear in user searches, driving traffic to their links. For example, a Spotify playlist titled “Sony Vegas Pro 13 Crack…” was found promoting “free” software sites in its title and description, directing users to questionable external links.

The scam isn’t limited to playlists. It extends to podcasts as well. Scammers create podcasts with multiple short episodes, typically under 20 seconds, using synthesized speech to direct listeners to click links in the description for free content. These podcasts often target users searching for pirated ebooks, audiobooks or game cheats. While the content may appear legitimate at first glance, clicking on the links often results in being redirected to unsafe pages that further exploit users.

Scammers exploit Spotify playlists by injecting targeted keywords into titles (BleepingComputer)

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The end goal

The main goal of this scam is to use Spotify’s trusted reputation and search engine visibility to get people to click on shady links and visit sketchy websites. Scammers make money through fake ad clicks, bogus surveys and affiliate links, while also spreading malware by tricking users into downloading harmful software or extensions. 

They also try to steal personal info through fake sign-up forms or phishing pages, which can lead to identity theft or be sold to others. By using Spotify’s indexed pages, they boost the search rankings of their spam sites, reaching more people. Some of these sites even run extra scams like fake crypto giveaways or phishing attempts to grab even more money or data from unsuspecting users.

Spotify playlist promoting Sony Vegas Pro “crack” (BleepingComputer)

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7 ways to stay safe from Spotify scams

1. Avoid clicking on suspicious links: Be cautious when you come across playlists or podcasts with titles like “Sony Vegas Pro 13 Crack” or other promises of free software, audiobooks or game cheats. These often include links in the description that redirect to unsafe sites hosting malware, adware or phishing pages.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

2. Stick to official sources: Always download software, eBooks or other digital content from trusted official websites or reputable platforms. If you see a Spotify playlist or podcast offering “free” versions of paid content, it’s likely a scam. Cross-check the legitimacy of the content through known channels instead of relying on unverified links.

3. Use strong, unique passwords: Create complex and unique passwords for your Spotify account and avoid using personal information like birthdays or pet names. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.

4. Be skeptical of synthesized speech and short episodes: Many scam podcasts feature short episodes (10-20 seconds) with synthesized speech directing you to click on a link in the description. These are a common tactic used to trick users into visiting unsafe pages. If the content feels automated, vague or overly promotional, it’s best to avoid it.

5. Verify curator credentials: Check the credentials of playlist curators. Legitimate curators usually have a verifiable online presence. If you can’t find any information about them, it’s best to avoid engaging with them.

6. Recognize phishing attempts: Be cautious of emails claiming to be from Spotify that ask you to confirm account details or click on suspicious links. These are often phishing attempts designed to steal your credentials.

7. Report and block suspicious content: If you come across playlists or podcasts that seem fraudulent or inappropriate, report them directly to Spotify. Use Spotify’s reporting tools to flag content that violates its platform rules. Blocking suspicious accounts or playlists also ensures you won’t accidentally interact with them in the future, and reporting helps Spotify improve its filtering and moderation systems.

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Kurt’s key takeaway

Scammers will use any means possible to trick you. In the past, we’ve seen bad actors weaponize Google search results with malicious websites that install malware when links are clicked on. There have also been plenty of SEO scams targeting users. Companies like Spotify need to implement measures to prevent their platforms from being misused by scammers. Google also has a responsibility to ensure the quality of its search results. Just because a webpage comes from a well-known organization doesn’t mean it deserves to rank highly on the search results pages.

Do you think platforms like Spotify and Google are doing enough to prevent scams, or could they improve? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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