The Darius Gant Show: Transforming the Fish Farming Industry with AI

Transforming the Fish Farming Industry with AI | Bryton Shang, Aquabyte

May 25, 2023

In this episode of the podcast, we talk to Bryton Shang, an engineer, and technologist with a background in operations and financial engineering from Princeton. Bryton has been a co-founder and CTO of multiple tech startups, with his latest venture, Aquabyte, utilizing artificial intelligence to detect sick animals in fish farms. Bryton discusses the challenges facing the fish farming industry and how technology can be used to overcome them. He talks about the use of cameras and computer vision AI models to help fish farmers monitor the growth and welfare of their fish, and how this data-driven approach can lead to increased sustainable food production.

We also learn about the benefits of using Aquabyte's technology system for fish farmers. This system allows farmers to measure the growth of their fish over time, make decisions on their food and treatments, and harvest them earlier for a higher price. Bryton explains how the system was approved by the FDA in Norway, eliminating the need for manual counting and handling of the fish, increasing the quality of the fish that is consumed, and making business processes more effective.

Finally, Bryton touches on the global nature of the fish farming industry, highlighting its presence at a fish expo in Brussels, where every type of fish imaginable was present. Join us as we explore the exciting world of technology in fish farming and its potential to revolutionize the industry.

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Founder Bio:

Bryton Shang is the founder and CEO of Aquabyte, which uses computer vision, machine learning, and AI to help aquaculture farms feed the world as cleanly and efficiently as possible by giving the industry unprecedented insight into the health, growth, and sustainability of their fish. Bryton grew Aquabyte from an idea with a prototype in his bathtub to an intelligent camera and data platform that helps the world's top fish farms understand what's happening in their pens -- uniquely identifying individual fish to track their health, growth, and environment -- without removing the fish from the water. Its technology solutions include biomass estimation, sea lice counting and non-antibiotic treatment optimization, feed optimization, welfare indicators, and more. All of this helps aquaculture farms minimize waste and maximize profit while also protecting the fish, waters, and communities that depend on them. The company now operates offices in Norway, the U.S., and Chile, and was the first technology company to be recognized for its accuracy by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Prior to Aquabyte, Bryton led several venture-backed startups, including as CTO of HistoWiz. At this biotechnology firm, he developed a deep learning algorithm to diagnose cancer, as well as iQ License, a brand licensing platform that he co-founded. Bryton graduated at the top of his engineering class at Princeton University and was recognized by Forbes magazine as a 30 Under 30 leader in Manufacturing & Industry. When he's not at a fish farm, you can find him in San Francisco.

Time Stamps:

02:06 Bryton’s background and professional journey

05:09 Exploring the use of AI in fish farming

09:28 Benefits of fish farming and the use of technology for healthier fish

13:29 Aquabyte’s AI-native solution for fish farming +

16:43 Challenges of collecting training data for AI solutions in fish farming

20:16 Implementing AI solutions for farm growth measurement

22:42 Building a multidisciplinary team to solve computer vision problems in the marine biology industry

25:22 Recruiting for data labeling, AI, and computer vision experts

29:56 Recruiting strategies for a mission-driven startup

33:08 Challenges of growing a startup

37:18 Challenges of growing a business