Artificial intelligence: How AI could be used to recreate old smells

Scientists reckon AI could be used to recreate smells in a lab

Have you ever smelled something that has brought back a very specific memory? Maybe it's the smell of someone's house, your grandparent's baking or a day out somewhere special.

Well, scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology think Artificial Intelligence, or AI, could be used to bring back certain scents that could otherwise be lost to time forever.

Especially as Earth's environment changes and adapts to climate change, experts suspect that the smells of some forests or natural areas could massively change.

By using AI, it's hoped that computers could work out the precise list of chemicals needed to recreate the smells.

What is Artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence, also known as AI, is when a computer acts similarly to a human brain, to do certain tasks.

It becomes 'intelligent' by taking in different types of information, and turning it into data, storing it in its 'brain'. It uses this information to do certain tasks, like give you a recipe, or complete a maths equation.

Computers, phones, and lots of different machines, use artificial intelligence in their everyday functions. For example, music streaming programmes use AI to recommend you new music, and video streaming platforms use it to recommend new things to watch.

You might have also heard of AI software like Chat-GPT, or image-creating software like Midjourney.

Smartphones use AI by taking information about you and recommending things you might like to see

Are there problems with AI?

Whilst AI can be really helpful, and can help technology to do great things, some people have criticised it.

For example, artists have said AI image-creation software takes away their jobs, if someone can get a computer to do it for them.

Some teachers have also been concerned that pupils are using AI to do homework, or to help them with test answers.

You can join in Newsround's conversation about AI and schoolwork here.

What's that smell?

Ahh the smell of nature... What's your favourite smell?

Artificial intelligence is used in lots of different types of research. Last year it was used to find energy efficient homes, digitally unwrap an ancient scroll, and even search for aliens!

Now scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology are trying to use it to recreate different scents.

They analysed two smells, putting them into categories for certain types of scent. This could be how strongly something smells, or how sweet or spicy that smell is.

Scientists looked at what the chemical make-up of these scent categories were, and then fed the information into an artificial intelligence machine. They hope to use this machine to tell them how to recreate more smells in the future.

What do you think about this? And what smell would you like to be able to keep forever?

Let us know in the comments.