Game Theory for Wildlife Conservation
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/21181/20160425/game-theory-artificial-intelligence-help-wildlife-conservation-outwitting-poachers.htm
In How Game Theory and Artificial Intelligence Help Wildlife Conservation by Outwitting Poachers, John Raphael discusses a design concept created in 2013 that involves the application of both game theory and artificial intelligence. The main purpose of the innovation is to assist park rangers in their patrol as they try to stop illegal poaching, and thus to optimize the possibility for saving rhino species in the area. Universally called “PAWS” (Protection Assistant for Wildlife Security), the application learns through fed data about the traffic and terrain of the park, and gives rangers the best patrol routes in terms of efficiency and allocation of resources. The article also touches base on the fact that work such as this has direct and indirect impacts, as it adds to a trend of creative problem solving.
PAWS specifically uses randomization in their patrol routes in practice of the notion that if they frequent the same areas, whether it be because of habit or proximity, poachers have a higher chance of predicting safe places to set up their snares without being caught through, since they look for patterns. This idea of randomization is ever present in a myriad of game theory situations we saw and discussed in class, such as with the goalie and kicker during penalty kicks in professional soccer games. Despite a kicker having better aim with one direction, they must still switch up where they kick in order to surprise the goalie and score. Similarly, a park ranger cannot patrol the same area even if they are an expert on that area and its topography because then they become predictable. The application applies this game theory intuition into its design, allocating the best routes for rangers to take.
Technology like this one is one example of how interdisciplinary innovative technology can be, and illustrates that society should strive to address social and environmental issues through the incorporation of not just science, but economy and other fields. Things like game theory, therefore, are not merely theoretical concepts to be learned in classes, but rather concrete ideas to be applied for change.