Artificial intelligence (AI) has been used to analyze publicly available photos of humpback whales to track their recovery from past whaling and provide insight into how climate change is affecting their populations. The results, published in the journal Nature, suggest that humpback whale populations are rebounding in some areas but face challenges due to climate change.

The study used AI to identify and track individual whales in over 4 million photos taken by whale-watching tourists and citizen scientists. The researchers were able to follow the whales over time and track their movements, behavior, and population size.

The results showed that humpback whale populations have recovered significantly since commercial whaling was banned in the 1960s. The North Pacific population, for example, has increased from around 1,500 individuals in the 1960s to over 20,000 today.

However, the study also found that climate change is having a negative impact on humpback whales. The researchers found that whales in warmer waters were less likely to survive and reproduce than whales in cooler waters. This is because humpback whales rely on cold water for feeding and breeding. Climate change is also causing changes in the whales' food supply, which is making it harder for them to find enough food.

The study provides valuable information about humpback whale recovery and the impacts of climate change on these marine mammals. The researchers hope that their findings will help inform conservation efforts to protect humpback whales and ensure their long-term survival.