When Will AI Take Over Beekeeping?
- Pete Rizzo
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Is Artificial Intelligence the Future of Beekeeping… or Just an Overused Buzzword?
AI is like an unstoppable virus. Most of us are sick of its picture slop (like the ones you will find in this article) and normal, real people are just tired of hearing about it. So we decided to add to this AI fatigue. I know, the irony of it all!
Moving on...
We are Betsy and Pete, beekeepers in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The other night we were talking about when, or if, the future of beekeeping will be in the hands of machines. Let's face the fact that AI will take over a lot of jobs, and whatever else has money attached to it.
Will artificial intelligence (AI) one day put on the bee suit, light the smoker, and head into the apiary while we sit back with a cup of coffee, watching from our porch?
Nope. A robot won't need a suit, smoker, and we won't have any coffee because the robot took over our operation and keeps all the money for itself.
Ok, I may be kidding around a bit, and I will continue throughout this article. You have been warned!
The Rise of AI in Agriculture and Is Beekeeping Next?
AI is already transforming agriculture. We’ve got smart tractors, automated irrigation, drone crop monitoring, and even AI-powered weed and pest detection. It’s no surprise that beekeeping has caught the attention of tech innovators.
In fact, smart hives are already here. These are equipped with sensors that monitor temperature, humidity, hive weight, acoustics, and bee movement.
They send alerts to beekeepers when something’s off, whether it’s an overheating hive, a mite infestation, or a dwindling food supply.
That’s a form of AI lending a helping hand, not really taking over, but making us smarter and faster at what we do.
But here’s the thing: beekeeping isn’t just data. It’s art. It’s instinct. It’s feel...right?
What Can AI Do (and What Can’t It Do Yet)?
Let’s look at where AI stands today:
Monitoring Hive Health: AI can analyze sound frequencies inside the hive to detect queenlessness, swarming signs, or stress. It can monitor weight loss indicating a nectar dearth.
Predicting Bee Behavior: With enough data, AI can forecast things like swarm season, forage availability, or disease outbreaks—giving beekeepers a heads-up.
Automating Tasks: In commercial operations, robots can assist in honey extraction, packaging, and even moving heavy hive boxes.
But here’s what AI can’t do (yet):
Assess Colony Personality: Every hive has its own “mood.” Some are docile, some are feisty. You don’t know it until you crack it open and feel it. No algorithm can replace that intuition.
Adapt in Real Time: Things can change on a dime. Weather shifts, predator attacks, unexpected swarms. A human can think fast and improvise; AI systems still struggle in chaotic, unpredictable environments.
Replace Ethical Judgment: Beekeeping is deeply ethical work. We make decisions for the welfare of living beings. Machines don’t have compassion, nor can they prioritize bee survival over pure profit.
Could AI Replace Beekeepers Altogether?
If we’re talking full-on takeover, the day when no human is needed, I believe we’re a long, long way off.
Why? Because bees are wild creatures, not machines. They’re influenced by nature, weather, and environment in ways no AI can fully map or control.
Beekeeping is a craft passed down through hands-on experience, stories, mistakes, and intuition.
Even with the best technology, we still lose colonies to varroa mites, pesticides, and climate shifts. We still rely on human observation and care. Machines can assist, but they’re tools, not replacements.
What the Future Could Look Like
Here’s what I do see coming:
AI as a Partner: Soon our apiary will have sensors to alert me when a hive needs attention, or an app suggests treatment plans for varroa infestations based on real-time data. AI would be my sidekick, not my replacement.
Precision Beekeeping: We’ll have more precise, targeted treatments. This will mean less blanket pesticide use, more sustainable interventions, and healthier bees.
Better Bee Research: AI can help us analyze massive amounts of bee behavior data, unlocking new insights about pollination, genetics, and survival. That helps all of us in the beekeeping world.
The Human Touch Will Always Matter
At the end of the day, AI can’t feel the hum of a healthy hive through hands. It can’t sense when the bees are just a bit more defensive than usual, or enjoy the beauty of a queen surrounded by her court.
Beekeeping is as much heart as it is science. The human touch will always matter.
So, will AI take over beekeeping?
Not anytime soon. But it will make us better beekeepers, giving us sharper tools, better knowledge, and maybe, a little less heavy lifting.
Ok, sure there is some nonsense there, but now I will clarify.
What’s Real Right Now (2025) in AI Beekeeping?
Smart hive sensors. Yes, these are real. You can buy hives with sensors that track:
temperature
humidity
hive weight
sound/vibration patterns
CO₂ levels
Companies like Arnia, BroodMinder, and BeeHero offer these systems today. They send data to your phone or computer and help monitor hive health remotely.
AI audio analysis —There are experimental tools that analyze the sounds bees make (called bioacoustics) to detect issues like queenlessness, swarming prep, or colony stress. Some researchers and startups are working on this now, and while it’s promising, it’s not yet mainstream or fully accurate.
Drone monitoring. Yes, some commercial beekeepers use drones to survey large apiaries, check for hive disturbances, or monitor forage zones. Again, more common in big operations, not backyard beekeeping.
Automated honey extraction. Large-scale honey producers have machines that uncap, extract, and filter honey automatically. This has been around for years and isn’t really “AI,” but it’s automation helping efficiency.
What’s Still Experimental or Developing?
AI predicting swarms or diseases. We’re not fully there yet. Some companies are training models on hive data to try predicting problems, but bees are unpredictable, and the accuracy isn’t perfect. It’s an interesting area but still under development.
Robots handling hive tasks. There are research prototypes, for example, robotic arms that can move frames. They’re nowhere near replacing a human beekeeper’s hands. These are slow, clunky, and expensive, just like us humans!
Fully automated, no-human-needed apiaries. Nope, not real yet. Some startups dream of this, but right now, human judgment, adaptability, and care are irreplaceable.
What’s Pure Speculation or Future Vision?
AI making ethical decisions about bee care.
AI improvising in the field, like handling aggressive hives or unexpected weather.
AI developing new beekeeping techniques beyond human knowledge.
These are imaginative ideas, maybe one day, but definitely not real today.
My Honest Take
Most of what I described in this article is grounded in real tools that exist or are being actively developed. But when I talk about AI as a “partner” or “sidekick,” that’s me looking ahead at the "responsible integration" of AI in beekeeping, not AI taking over my craft or replacing humans.
We’re still the heart and brains of the apiary. The AI? It’s just another tool in our toolbox, sort of like a hive tool, a smoker, or a bee brush, but way weirder and scarier?
So yes, I have mixed facts with informed speculation, but I made sure to separate current reality from future possibilities. I also said that when money is to be made, AI will surely force its way in, and try to take over.
We are simple beekeepers, and i'm sure, we wont be using any of it in our lifetimes. Especially after seeing the movie Terminator, I don't think we will be hanging out with robots...
Betsy & Pete
🐝Las Vegas’s All-Natural Live Bee Removal Team
About Us: The Authors
We’re Betsy and Pete - Beekeepers on a Mission in Las Vegas
We’re not just in the bee business, we’re in the bee-saving business. Trained by a master beekeeper and backed by hundreds of successful removals, we are dedicated to rescuing and relocating honey bees with care and precision.
Every swarm we save and every hive we manage reflects our deep love for the bees.
At our Joshua Tree Preserve in Arizona, we care for dozens of thriving hives. Some wild, some honey-bearing, and all are part of our commitment to ethical, sustainable beekeeping.
Why Vegas Bees? Because We Never Stop Learning or Caring
Beekeeping is always evolving, and so are we. We stay on the cutting edge by continuing our education, connecting with fellow beekeepers, and refining our beekeeping practices and techniques to ensure the best outcomes for both bees and people.
Whether it’s advanced bee removal strategies or the latest natural methods, we’re always one step ahead.
We’re also proud to support the beekeeping community with high-quality beekeeping supplies for everyone—from curious beginners to seasoned pros. If you’re ready to suit up and start your journey, we’ve got what you need.
