A dog’s nose is remarkably sensitive – and odour, it turns out, is packed with information. Now engineers are training machines to mimic that ability, using artificial intelligence to create electronic noses capable of sniffing out complex smells, including disease.
BBC technology correspondent Chris Vallance visited a company developing the technology. The firm is harnessing AI to analyse odour signatures, building on the principle that different smells carry distinct chemical fingerprints.
“AI-powered electronic noses are being trained to detect diseases by mimicking dogs' sense of smell.”
Elsewhere in this week’s Tech Life programme, Shiona McCallum travelled to Paris to explore sleep technology – tools that help people understand their rest patterns. Meanwhile, Liv McMahon joined Chris on a walk in the park, where they tried a bird identification app. Such apps have become a hit, particularly among younger users, who use them to identify species by sound or image.
The potential of electronic noses extends beyond novelty. If perfected, they could revolutionise early detection of illnesses, offering a non-invasive way to diagnose conditions through breath or bodily odour. But the journey from laboratory to clinic remains a challenge.