Montreal company that tracks marine mammals with AI gets top marks from UNESCO
A Montreal-based company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to track marine mammals like whales, seals and polar bears has been named one of the world's top 10 AI projects for sustainable development by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The AI tool Mobius, created by the company Whale Seeker, analyzes aerial images to detect the presence of marine mammals. This allows the maritime industry to avoid collisions and better assess where they should and shouldn't fish.
On April 21, Whale Seeker learned it was selected by UNESCO's International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) as a top AI project for sustainable development.
"We would now like to begin working with you on the preparation of your public outreach activities," reads a letter sent to Whale Seeker from IRCAI director John Shawe Taylor.
"Our team is dedicated to developing and using technology for the common good and we are thrilled to have our efforts recognized on the world stage. This award is a testament to our high ethical standards and commitment to using AI to support sustainable development efforts and the fight against climate change," Whale Seeker founder Emily Charry Tissier wrote in a statement.
According to a study recently published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, Mobius can detect marine mammals 25 times faster than the human eye.
The study found the software could analyze 5500 images in 53 hours, while researchers have done the same job with the naked eye in 1,300 hours.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 4, 2023.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada could impose tariffs on U.S. steel, orange juice in response to Trump threat
Canadian officials are narrowing a list of American products to target in the event the federal government must respond to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, CTV News has confirmed.
Convicted Jan. 6 rioter arrested as fugitive in Whistler, B.C.
An American citizen convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill who said he was seeking asylum in Canada has been arrested as a "fugitive from U.S. justice," according to authorities.
Can the U.S. really make Canada the 51st state?
Talk of Canada becoming the 51st American state has raised an existential question on this side of the border: Could it be done? Could the maple leaf make way to the stars and stripes? According to several experts, it may be possible, but not painless.
L.A. wildfires continue to devastate area, Canada prepared to offer expertise
A series of wildfires are searing through the Los Angeles area, forcing many to evacuate their homes. Here's everything that happened throughout Jan. 8.
'True when I said it, true today': former Canadian PM Harper pushes back aganst Trump on social media
Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t find president-elect Donald Trump’s jibes about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state very amusing.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is 'OK' after OPP vehicle he was in was 'sideswiped' in Highway 401 collision
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was uninjured after an OPP vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a collision on Highway 401 earlier today.
At least 60 University of Guelph students sick as 'cluster of illness' hits residence
The University of Guelph is dealing with what they are calling a ‘cluster of illness’ among students living in residence.
Energy minister 'committed' to consumer carbon tax as he considers Liberal leadership
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says he would be 'committed' to the consumer carbon tax should he become Liberal leader and prime minister, despite the policy’s unpopularity.
New ranking suggests Canada passport among 'top 5 losers' in the world
A new global ranking may raise doubts about Canada's reputation of being open to other countries.
Toronto
-
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is 'OK' after OPP vehicle he was in was 'sideswiped' in Highway 401 collision
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was uninjured after an OPP vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a collision on Highway 401 earlier today.
-
Toronto police arrest one of Canada's most wanted fugitives
One of Canada’s most wanted fugitives, who is the suspect in a fatal double shooting in south Etobicoke more than two years ago, has been arrested.
-
Ontario's so-called 'crypto king' faces new criminal charges in intimate partner violence case
Ontario's self-proclaimed 'crypto king,' Aiden Pleterski is facing charges in an alleged case of intimate partner violence in Vaughan last week.
Ottawa
-
Canada as the 51st State: Americans in Watertown, N.Y. react
Watertown, N.Y. is a border city where opinions on Canada potentially becoming the 51st U.S. state are as diverse as the people themselves. New Yorkers living in the city about an hour south of the border are weighing in on the idea, with many sharing mixed emotions.
-
'Not for sale': pushback as Trump's rhetoric escalates
Pushback to Donald Trump's escalating rhetoric continued Wednesday following the president-elect's threat to use economic force to acquire Canada as the 51st state.
-
Group calls on province to ban rat poison after Kanata dog nearly dies
After a dog in Kanata nearly died from ingesting rat poison, a grassroots organization is calling on the provincial government to take action to prevent similar incidents from happening.
Atlantic
-
Police arrest suspect in two N.S. homicides
Police have arrested a New Brunswick man wanted for the deaths of two people in Nova Scotia last month.
-
Daughter of N.S. woman killed in Edmonton speaks out
Abigail Robson is mourning the death of her mother Ashley Burke, who was killed in Edmonton, Alta, in an act of intimate partner violence.
-
Victim’s friend testifies in Halifax mall murder trial
A second-degree murder trial in the death of Ahmad Al Marrach heard from one of the victim’s friends Wednesday.
N.L.
-
Adviser says Quebec-N.L. energy deal is 'very good,' as Opposition vows not to vote
Newfoundland and Labrador's Opposition Progressive Conservatives vowed Wednesday that they will not vote on a draft energy deal with Quebec's hydro utility until it is scrutinized by independent experts.
-
Newfoundland and Labrador energy deal with Quebec under scrutiny as debate opens
Newfoundland and Labrador politicians are digging into the details of the province's draft energy deal with Quebec as four days of debate begin today in St. John's, N.L.
-
Part of street washed away and state of emergency declared in N.L. town after storm
Damaging winds and pounding surf that washed away part of a street in a small northeastern town in Newfoundland on Sunday triggered a state of emergency in the coastal community.
Northern Ontario
-
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is 'OK' after OPP vehicle he was in was 'sideswiped' in Highway 401 collision
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was uninjured after an OPP vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a collision on Highway 401 earlier today.
-
Motorist was driving 168 km/h on Hwy. 69, northern Ont. police say
A 21-year-old from Sturgeon Falls has been charged with stunt driving and is accused of exceeding the speed limit by 58 km/h.
-
Ontario has 'strong list' to counter possible Trump tariffs: Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government has a “strong list” of possible retaliatory measures if U.S. president-elect Donald Trump moves ahead with imposing tariffs on Canadian goods.
London
-
Why hasn’t London opened warming centres for the homeless?
Warming centres are welcoming people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, but a much lower temperature criteria in London means the temporary spaces are not operating here.
-
Snowmobile collision claims the life of 58-year-old near Brucefield
OPP say that they responded to a collision on Mill Road just west of the town of Brucefield just before 4:00 p.m.
-
Attempted robbery of London jewellery store has LPS on the hunt for four suspects
According to police, at roughly 4:15 p.m., four men arrived in a white SUV, and entered a jewellery store in the 400-block Wharncliffe Road South.
Kitchener
-
Pedestrian dies after crash involving Guelph city bus
A pedestrian has died after a crash involving a city bus in Guelph.
-
At least 60 University of Guelph students sick as 'cluster of illness' hits residence
The University of Guelph is dealing with what they are calling a ‘cluster of illness’ among students living in residence.
-
Faculty strike averted at Ontario colleges as both sides agree to binding arbitration
A strike by faculty at Ontario’s 24 public colleges was averted Wednesday, with both sides reaching an agreement on key points and a promise to resolve outstanding issues in mediation and arbitration.
Windsor
-
Would updated MPAC assessments lead to skyrocketing property tax hikes?
Some residents may assume that a sharp rise in property values would lead to an equivalent increase in property taxes, but that's not the case. Here’s how it works.
-
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is 'OK' after OPP vehicle he was in was 'sideswiped' in Highway 401 collision
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was uninjured after an OPP vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a collision on Highway 401 earlier today.
-
'What we're doing is working': More dog parvovirus clinics coming to downtown Windsor as deadly outbreak stabilizes
Three canine parvovirus vaccination clinics are scheduled to take place in downtown Windsor this Friday and Saturday as the number of cases related to a parvo outbreak that began last month levels off.
Barrie
-
Over $65,000 in stolen goods seized during Alliston raid: OPP
Ontario Provincial Police executed a search warrant at a Boyne Street property in New Tecumseth, uncovering over $65,000 worth of allegedly stolen items, including a Kubota diesel side-by-side and various tools, dirt bikes, and equipment.
-
Alleged serial ticket scammer 'Todd the Fraud' seeks resolution in case
A Collingwood man nicknamed ‘Todd The Fraud’ by people who say they were defrauded by him in the sale of fake music concert and VIP NHL All-Star Game tickets in Toronto could soon be resolving his Barrie case.
-
Wasaga Beach man plans to live mortgage-free after life-changing lottery win
A Wasaga Beach man is celebrating a life-changing lottery win after saying yes to Encore.
Vancouver
-
B.C. Conservative leader alleges voting irregularities in critical Surrey-Guildford riding
John Rustad, the leader of the B.C. Conservative Party, says his party has uncovered what he calls voting irregularities in the critical Surrey-Guildford riding – where the margin of victory was just 22, and which gave the provincial New Democratic Party its majority.
-
Convicted Jan. 6 rioter arrested as fugitive in Whistler, B.C.
An American citizen convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill who said he was seeking asylum in Canada has been arrested as a "fugitive from U.S. justice," according to authorities.
-
A B.C. man's mission of hope in Cambodia, helping human trafficking survivors
The bustling Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh is a city filled with street markets and tuk tuks.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. Conservative leader alleges voting irregularities in critical Surrey-Guildford riding
John Rustad, the leader of the B.C. Conservative Party, says his party has uncovered what he calls voting irregularities in the critical Surrey-Guildford riding – where the margin of victory was just 22, and which gave the provincial New Democratic Party its majority.
-
Convicted Jan. 6 rioter arrested as fugitive in Whistler, B.C.
An American citizen convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill who said he was seeking asylum in Canada has been arrested as a "fugitive from U.S. justice," according to authorities.
-
Debate among Liberal MPs over voting rules in leadership race
With contenders poised to enter the race to replace outgoing Prime Minister and Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau, concerns are being raised about the party’s criteria for voting eligibility.
Winnipeg
-
Winnipeg hospital death to be investigated as critical incident
The recent death of a man waiting for care in a Winnipeg hospital’s emergency department is being investigated as a critical incident.
-
Protesters block heavy equipment from entering Lemay Forest; trees still being cut down
It's full-blown Lemayhem in St. Norbert. On Wednesday morning, protesters blocked the road to Lemay Forest in an effort to stop more tree cutting in the area.
-
Police chief’s remains believed to be found in fire aftermath
The remains of Manitoba First Nation Police Service’s (MFNPS) leader are believed to have been found following a fire at his home.
Calgary
-
What could 'economic force' to merge countries look like for Canadian businesses?
Economists, business leaders and politicians are reacting to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's comments that he'd use 'economic force' to acquire Canada as the 51st state.
-
'True when I said it, true today': former Canadian PM Harper pushes back aganst Trump on social media
Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t find president-elect Donald Trump’s jibes about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state very amusing.
-
'Extremely triggering': Facebook drug ads cause concern for Calgarian in recovery
A Calgary man who struggled with addiction for more than two decades is questioning why his Facebook account has been showing advertisements for drugs.
Edmonton
-
'This isn't just my mom's story,' says daughter of woman allegedly killed by partner
Abigail Robson says she moved from Nova Scotia to Alberta as a young girl with her mother 10 years ago for a fresh start.
-
ATA warns standardized testing will cause 'stress and anxiety' for kindergarteners
Kindergarteners in the province will receive standardized testing for the first time this month, something the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) says will negatively impact both teachers and students.
-
Semantics around subsidies won't stop city, developers from building homes
While Edmonton's mayor says home builders are getting too many handouts and that it needs to change as the city grows, the main advocate for the industry finds the position "baffling" and says developers don't see any subsidies. But both sides say they share a common goal.
Regina
-
Regina murder suspect who appeared on national most wanted list arrested
The Regina Police Service (RPS) has arrested a suspect that appeared on Canada's Top 25 Most Wanted list – in relation to a homicide that occurred in May of 2024.
-
Saskatchewan town sees flurry of construction with $30K housing cheque program
An official with a town in southeastern Saskatchewan says its plan to offer $30,000 cheques to anyone building homes in the community is paying off.
-
Saskatchewan experiencing warm up in temperatures this week
Temperatures have warmed up slightly this week for much of Saskatchewan and the prairies – an unexpected surprise for many during the dead of winter.
Saskatoon
-
'You're killing them inside': Sask. hockey referee blows the whistle on verbal abuse of young officials
A Saskatchewan hockey referee is gaining widespread attention after posting a video on social media telling coaches and parents to “do better.”
-
Sask. man missing since Christmas found dead
A 50-year-old man from Prince Albert, reported missing on Christmas Eve, was found dead Wednesday.
-
Saskatoon residents oppose cell tower precedent
SaskTel is proposing a new cell tower placed on the corner of a Saskatoon park to improve coverage and network capacity, but nearby residents say it’s too close to their homes, and against City of Saskatoon policy.
