Search across all content
projectHave you talked to a tree today? The Talking Treebot gives Berlin's city trees a voice with the help of artificial intelligence.
Since the launch of “Gieß den Kiez” at the beginning of 2020, and especially with former State Secretary Dr. Frank Nägele’s vision of “making Berlin’s trees speak,” the desire for an interactive dialogue with urban nature has grown. In mid-2024, we finally developed a mobile chatbot, the Talking Treebot, which uses ChatGPT, an environmental sensor, and simple voice input and output to make any tree in Berlin “speak.”
The Treebot was inspired by projects such as “Plant Dialogues,” the “Talking Meadow Project,” and the nationwide ClimART funding initiative. In collaboration with these initiatives, we defined the Treebot’s requirements, initiated a creative ideation process, and refined our concept.
All of these projects share a common goal: to use digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, web-based interfaces (APIs), and environmental sensors to give nature a voice.
The goal of the Treebot is to enable users to engage in a direct dialogue with their environment and gain an illustrative understanding of the importance and ecosystem functions of trees in urban settings. The tree also discusses its threats due to climate change and asks conversation partners for their personal opinions. In this way, the Treebot allows users to interact playfully with cutting-edge technology. The Treebot is a physical prototype that can also be used by people with minimal digital skills, such as children or older adults. It supports multiple languages, adapting to the needs of its conversation partners.
Equipped with a microcomputer, an environmental sensor, a USB speaker, and a wireless microphone, the compact box can be easily attached to any tree using Velcro, like a “trunk belt pouch.”
The sensor collects environmental data such as temperature, humidity, and air pressure at the tree’s location. These data are interpreted using AI, influencing the tree’s “mood” and the course of the conversation. In this way, the tree becomes a mobile voice for itself and its surroundings, raising awareness of nature.
We have collected valuable feedback from recent locations, which we are now sorting and integrating into the next iteration.
CityLAB was founded in 2019. It is operated by the Technologiestiftung Berlin and funded through a grant by the Berlin Senate Chancellery.
Launch year: 2024
Case study provided to the AI Navigator courtesy of CityLAB Berlin, Apolitical's content partner. "Talking Treebot", CityLAB Berlin, https://citylab-berlin.org/projekte/talking-treebot/. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Connect with 500,000+ public servants solving your hardest challenges.
Connect with 500,000+ public servants solving your hardest challenges.
Help public servants worldwide learn from your work, what worked, what flopped and what you'd do differently
Share your project
Log in or sign up to continue the conversation