The changing face of extension in the age of AI

The days of sharing advice over the Ute tray aren’t gone - but they are getting an AI upgrade. 

Agricultural extension has always been built on trust, experience, and connection. For generations, it’s been about people helping people - through field walks, shed meetings, and the occasional early-morning call to talk through a challenge. But as Artificial Intelligence (AI) enters the picture, the way we support growers is changing fast. 

At this year’s Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN) Conference, David Warren from the US Extension Foundation challenged us to see AI not as a threat, but as a shift in mindset. His message was simple: technology won’t replace extension - it will reinvent it. For some, that’s a daunting thought; for others already using AI, it’s a welcome affirmation of progress. 

AI is making knowledge more accessible, accurate, and inclusive than ever before. It’s helping extension deliver faster insights, tailor advice, and improve decision-making – without losing the human connection that’s always made it meaningful.  

We’re already seeing that reinvention take shape. Drones, sensors, and satellite imaging are giving growers real-time insights into soil health, irrigation, and crop growth. AI-powered tools can detect pest outbreaks or nutrient deficiencies before they spread, helping to prevent costly losses and improve productivity. These systems don’t just collect data - they turn it into decisions that make a difference on the ground. 

Beyond the farm gate, chatbots and e-learning platforms are providing growers with instant access to advice, weather updates, and training. They’re bridging the gap between regions, languages, and time zones - extending the reach of trusted information, not replacing it. 

Of course, challenges remain. Cost, connectivity, and digital literacy are still barriers. And no algorithm can replicate the intuition, empathy, or deep local knowledge that define good extension work. 

But when used wisely, AI has the power to amplify what’s always mattered most - people. The future of agricultural extension isn’t man or machine; it’s man and machine, working together to grow a smarter, more connected horticulture sector.