Computer Engineer Designs World’s First AI-Powered Cat Shelter in Beijing

Beijing isn’t quite as frigid as Chicago is right now, but with the forecast calling for low temperatures in the 20s this weekend, it’s not exactly the best place to be a stray cat. Without proper shelter and medical attention, many of China’s stray cats die within two years. With this in mind, a computer engineer in Beijing designed an AI-powered shelter to keep outdoor kitties snug and safe this winter, the Daily Mail reports.

“At first, I just wanted to provide them with a warm place in winter with food and water that is not frozen,” Wan Xi told China's People's Daily. The scope of the project continued to expand, and Xi ended up working with animal welfare experts to create a high-tech shelter that doubles as a makeshift veterinary clinic.

The temperature inside the shelter is set to stay at 27°C (80°F). Smart cameras attached to the structure can detect and flag any potential health problems the felines may be facing, and they can reportedly even tell whether a cat has been spayed or neutered.

Using facial recognition, the cameras have been trained to recognize approaching cats. The shelter’s sliding door only opens when a cat is recognized, which keeps other furry critters out.

Although the shelter is self-operating, a group of volunteers helps monitor the data collected by cameras. Xi also uses a mobile app to check up on the cats. The video below is in Chinese, but you can watch some curious cats testing out the shelter around the 3:20 mark.

[h/t Daily Mail]