Artificial intelligence is part of our everyday life – we encounter it daily, often without even noticing its presence. A good example was the tram project in Tampere, during which it was revealed that a Chinese surveillance camera company had used AI for ethnic profiling.

How does artificial intelligence affect the equestrian industry? I've been reflecting on this, and I believe we're going to see major changes in the coming years.

Many veterinarians already use AI-based mobile applications that detect lameness in horses while they move. The possibilities are vast – in human medicine, AI is effectively used to analyze X-rays, eyes, and hearts. The superiority of AI lies in its ability to process massive amounts of data. It can be used to predict, for example, the emergence of potential epidemics in specific regions.

In horse breeding, AI can help utilize large datasets in making breeding decisions. Bloodlines and their strengths and weaknesses can be filtered through AI. Still, I believe the true fascination of horse breeding lies in the fact that you never really know what kind of foal will be born – even if you use the same stallion/mare combination as before. There is no database from which AI could gather, for instance, the physical traits of a stallion's offspring. Even today, it's difficult to obtain reliable information about the weaknesses or character traits of foals on a large scale. With a small sample size, evaluation becomes very challenging. 

And what about betting? How much AI-analyzed data can be harnessed to help select the best horses of the day? I'm skeptical of this theory. In harness racing, there's a driver in the sulky, and many horses race simultaneously. Of course, some horses perform better under certain conditions – in heavy weather, with a specific driver, or without shoes. But these have always been known factors in horse racing and betting. So, nothing new compared to the indisputable facts discussed at Vermo's paddock café.

Dressage judging criteria spark debate. What if AI were to evaluate the symmetry, scope, and rhythm of movements? I feel that football has lost part of its soul when every goal is followed by a VAR video review – checking whether a player's finger was possibly offside or something equally absurd and contrary to the spirit of the game. Dressage is a judged sport, and I hope no tools are introduced that unnecessarily alter the nature of the discipline.  

Can we still trust photos or videos in horse sales? As AI advances, the temptation for dishonesty may increase among unscrupulous sellers. A dressage horse's sales video can be enhanced with extra "swung" in its movement, a foal's leg alignment may appear better than in reality, or a show jumper might jump with perfect style and and a beautifully flowing canter. People form a certain impression of a horse based on the first video they see, and even if the horse moves differently in person, the video influences the buyer's subconscious. Are we taking a step back in time, where people start visiting stables again to see horses live because videos can't be trusted? That would be a welcome trend – nowadays, buyers are somewhat lazy about coming to see horses in person.

There has already been discussion about animal welfare concerns. For example, has a horse's tongue color been manipulated to appear blue in photos so that the rider can be accused of overly harsh rein handling? With the use of AI, the situation is unlikely to become any clearer in either direction.

So what should we think of all this – or should we think anything at all? It's quite certain that as AI becomes more prevalent, programs will emerge that detect AI usage in videos. This will likely become a significant business in the future, essential for maintaining the credibility of society and democracy.

AI will undoubtedly make veterinarians' work easier in many ways, but on the other hand, clients may start questioning diagnoses more readily, citing information they've found online.

I'm an old-school horseman and a romantic at heart, and I still believe the equestrian world contains so much experience- and instinct-based communication between horse and human that AI simply cannot replicate. I also don't believe in its infallibility. Hopefully, we never start trusting AI too blindly and neglect using our own brains. When used correctly, it can certainly benefit everyone – but I'm curious to see how this whole issue evolves. Predicting the future is difficult – especially the future itself.