{
  "id": 19678977,
  "title": "Scientists are using Google AI to help restore giant kelp forests.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/scientists-are-using-google-ai-to-help-restore-giant-kelp-forests",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-11-12T17:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Google Blog",
    "slug": "google-blog",
    "url": "https://blog.google/company-news/outreach-and-initiatives/sustainability/saving-giant-kelp-australia/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Giant kelp forests offer crucial protection for coastlines, serve as habitats for marine life, and sustain ecosystems. However, these underwater forests are facing extinction across the globe because of rising ocean temperatures. As the COP31 conference begins, scientists are sharing the outcomes of a collaboration between Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, and Google AI to aid in the restoration of giant kelp. The partnership has recently published two high-quality reference genomes for Australian giant kelp, establishing a foundation for conservation genetics research.\n\nNext, researchers trained a version of Google's open-source AI tool, DeepVariant, to analyze the DNA of giant kelp. The AI was applied to sequence 600 wild specimens collected from 40 sites along the Tasmanian coast, where kelp populations have dwindled to just 5% of their original numbers. The genetic analysis and subsequent lab-based cross-breeding studies are creating the groundwork for a practical outcome: replanting giant kelp forests with diverse, heat-tolerant specimens. This initiative is part of Google Australia's Digital Futures Initiative.",
  "summary": "Underwater forests of giant kelp protect coastlines, provide habitat, and support marine ecosystems — but they’re disappearing worldwide due to ocean warming. As COP31 k…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}