SpexAI

Saxony-based SpexAI is a German AgTech company, established in August 2018 by Ben Niehaus and Nadine Walther. SpexAI has developed a cutting-edge technology which combines custom spectral sensors and a deep neural network to predict the future of cannabis plants. This unique technology empowers growers to monitor the plants during growth and determine the cannabinoid levels, without human intervention. The combination of spectral data and AI will drastically improve the growth of medicinal cannabis. For growers around the world, the usage of this technology will become as natural as asking Alexa for tomorrow’s weather.

SpexAI’s unique technology allows for controlled, consistent, and predictable growth of cannabis plants. The carefully orchestrated deep neural networks and smart multispectral sensors will disrupt the indoor cultivation of cannabis. The technology relates to a method for analysing a plant, in particular for analysing cannabis, using a lighting unit, a sensor unit, and an analysis unit, said analysis unit having a data-based classifier. The invention additionally relates to a device for analysing a plant, said device comprising a lighting unit for lighting the plant to be analysed and a sensor unit for receiving analysis input data,

wherein the analysis input data contains at least spectral information, in particular an absorption spectrum or a reflection spectrum of the training plant. The device additionally comprises an analysis unit for analysing the received analysis input data and for determining at least one property of the plant to be analysed. The analysis unit is also designed to determine at least one property of the plant using a data-based classifier and the previously received analysis input data.

SpexAI is developing smart multispectral sensors to monitor cannabis plants during the growth. The company received fundings from two significant European funds ESF and EFRE for its innovative product. The funding enabled SpexAI to enhance their multispectral sensors and produce the first units of their pilot series. Odin, the company’s AI, is constantly learning and eager to make the most out of the data provided by Hugin, the firm’s smart sensor. Clients will be able to ask Odin for the current cannabinoid content of their plants and get a forecast into the future. With more data Odin will be able to tell clients much more about their plants. “Today our AI can already predict the cannabinoid level during growth. There is no need to harm your plants or wait until the samples are dried,” states Nadine Walther, Managing Director of SpexAI.

In the beginning of 2020, the technology team of SpexAI decided to use AWS as the provider for its data. AWS offers a broad spectrum and high standards to enhance machine learning models and data analysis. With the combination of spectral data and AI, SpexAI will drastically improve the growth of medicinal cannabis around the globe. SpexAI was valued as a company that offers the best AI projects in technical infrastructure and business support and it received 100,000 Dollar in Amazon Web Services Credits to boost their AI projects. Moreover, SpexAI is part of Cannabis-Net, an international network which develops innovative technologies along the entire Cannabis value chain. Additionally, the firm has joined the NVIDIA Inception program that gives SpexAI an invaluable support to the global ecosystem with amazing experts and ground-breaking technologies.