Google has announced a new initiative using artificial intelligence to help conserve endangered species by preserving their genetic information. The project supports global efforts like the Vertebrate Genomes Project and the Earth BioGenome Project by applying advanced AI tools to rapidly sequence the genomes of at-risk animals — a task that historically took years and cost millions of dollars to complete.
Understanding a species’ genome — its full set of DNA instructions — gives researchers vital insights into genetic diversity, adaptation and evolutionary history, which can inform strategies to protect species from extinction and manage breeding programs more effectively. With AI models such as DeepPolisher, DeepVariant and DeepConsensus, sequencing has become far faster, cheaper and more accurate than traditional methods, enabling scientists to process complex genetic data at unprecedented scale.
So far, AI has helped sequence the genomes of dozens of endangered animals — including primates like the cotton-top tamarin, amphibians like the golden mantella frog, and birds such as the African penguin — and this data has been made freely available to the scientific community for conservation work. Google has also provided funding and technical support to expand these efforts to hundreds more species, emphasizing open access and collaboration with conservation researchers worldwide.
By dramatically reducing the cost and time required for genomic analysis, AI is empowering scientists with critical biological insights that can shape conservation plans, protect ecosystems and preserve biodiversity before unique genetic lineages are lost forever. This work illustrates how cutting-edge technology can be directed toward urgent environmental challenges, supporting efforts to maintain the planet’s ecological balance.
