Artificial intelligence and thermal imaging are being combined to help protect whales from deadly ship strikes in busy waterways. Researchers and marine technology companies have developed systems that use AI-powered thermal cameras to detect whales by identifying the heat signatures from their bodies and exhaled “blows” above the water’s surface. The technology is being deployed in areas such as the San Francisco Bay, where increasing whale activity and heavy maritime traffic have created growing risks for endangered marine animals.
The system works by continuously scanning the ocean using advanced thermal sensors connected to AI detection software. Once a whale is identified, the system alerts nearby ship operators, ferry services, and coast guard traffic systems so vessels can reduce speed or alter course. Researchers say the technology can operate day and night, even in foggy or low-visibility conditions, allowing mariners to detect whales much earlier than with human observation alone. Companies such as WhaleSpotter and Teledyne FLIR are helping build these AI-assisted monitoring systems using edge AI and thermal infrared imaging.
The initiative comes as gray whale populations face increasing threats linked to climate change and changing migration behavior. Scientists report that food shortages in Arctic feeding grounds are pushing more whales into crowded shipping areas such as San Francisco Bay, where vessel collisions have become a major cause of death. In 2025 alone, more than 20 gray whales reportedly died in the region, prompting urgent efforts to improve marine monitoring and ship-safety coordination.
Researchers believe AI-powered whale tracking could eventually become part of a larger real-time marine safety network. Future systems may integrate fixed coastal cameras, ferry-mounted sensors, drones, and satellite monitoring to create live whale-location maps accessible to ships and harbor authorities. Supporters argue that the technology demonstrates how AI can be applied beyond commercial automation and consumer products, helping solve environmental and conservation challenges through faster detection, real-time analytics, and coordinated response systems.
