[r-johnv]

>>we developed statistical models to predict bird behaviour. These models were based on long-term observations of bird interactions led by Philip Gibbons at the Australian National University. By simulating how birds might use artificial branches, we could refine our designs to better meet their needs.

It sounded like a great use of an ML classifier interpreting raw data (possibly video footage?) of bird observations... Until the line where they reveal their data source for the model was already classified data from a previous study. And the previous study also had similar conclusions about horizontal branches on tall old trees being the most preferred.

[G4E]

I'm sorry I know this HN and not reddit, but your formulation is so close to the meme "Thinking quickly, Dave constructs a homemade megaphone, using only some string, a squirrel, and a megaphone."

https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/045/029/Scr...

[mentos]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXAOamWIPcM

Here’s another arrow for your quiver.

[kjkjadksj]

Ai is just a tool. Its not necessarily better than any other way of modeling data until you prove it is. That being said it is a newer tool, and whenever a newer tool comes out theres a lot of low hanging fruit for researchers to validate existing notions with the new tool. These won’t be seminal papers or anything but serve as proof of work so the author can get a relevant job.