AI-Powered Robotic Beehives Could Save Bees From Climate Change Threats
Bees are vital to global food production, pollinating more than one-third of the crops humans consume. Yet, the population is collapsing at alarming rates — with around 40% of colonies dying off each year, according to data shared by California-based startup Beewise.
Climate change, pesticide use, wildfires, and increasingly violent storms are among the biggest culprits threatening bee survival. Traditional wooden beehives, first introduced in the 1850s, offer little protection and cannot adapt to these modern challenges.
That’s where Beewise steps in. The company has developed BeeHome, a robotic hive powered by artificial intelligence and automation. Unlike conventional hives, BeeHome actively monitors, nourishes, and protects bees.
“Think of it as a smart beehive,” explained Beewise CEO Saar Safra. “It uses the same frames and bees as traditional hives, but inside, cameras and sensors feed data into AI software that monitors the colony’s health. The system can then deliver food, medicine, and even regulate temperature to protect bees from extreme conditions.”
The smart hives act like climate-controlled homes for bees, shielding them from storms, heatwaves, and other climate-related stressors. For example, during hurricanes Helene and Milton, thousands of wooden hives across Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina were destroyed — a problem BeeHome aims to solve.
Each BeeHome unit can autonomously manage up to 10 colonies, helping growers cut labor costs while reducing bee deaths. Future versions are expected to scale that to 40 colonies per unit, making the technology even more attractive to investors and commercial beekeepers.
According to Beewise, early results show a 70% reduction in colony collapse, with hives proving healthier and more productive. Thousands of BeeHome devices are already in use, and the company reports strong customer adoption, revenue growth, and gross margins of around 40%.
The startup has raised $170 million in funding from major investors including Corner Ventures, Insight Partners, Fortissimo, Lool Ventures, and APG, as it pushes to expand globally.
With the world’s food security so tightly linked to pollinators, innovations like AI-powered robotic beehives could be a game-changer in safeguarding both bees and agriculture against the worsening effects of climate change.
