The world is facing serious problems, such as natural disasters, endangered species, and deforestation. Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence could help tackle some of these issues, but the people who need it most often don’t have access to powerful computers. As a result, IBM (IBM) released smaller, free versions of its advanced AI models, called Prithvi and TerraMind, that can run on regular laptops and even smartphones. In fact, these versions are open-source and designed to work offline, thereby making it easier for scientists and everyday users to study and protect the planet in real-time.
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The tiny models are especially useful in places where internet or electricity is limited, like disaster zones, remote areas, or even in space. Interestingly, TerraMind, which was built by a European space team, is the best-performing model for Earth monitoring tasks. Meanwhile, Prithvi-EO 2.0, developed with NASA, helped track long-term environmental changes and even won an award. However, earlier versions of these tools were too large and required powerful hardware.
IBM solved this issue by using a technique called a “frozen encoder,” which shrinks the models without losing much accuracy. This makes them up to 120 times smaller and perfect for mobile devices. In addition, because they are now so compact, these AI models can be used directly inside satellites, drones, and even phones. For example, future satellites could be updated with specific tasks while in orbit. And since these models are free to use, anyone with a basic laptop can now train or customize them.
Is IBM a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on IBM stock based on six Buys, six Holds, and one Sell assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average IBM price target of $287.25 per share implies that shares are trading near fair value.
