Electric Plant raises $11.2M to commercialize Bombadil AI model that deciphers plant electrical signals

Electric Plant has raised $11.2 million in seed funding to commercialize Bombadil, a large language model that interprets electrical signals from plant stems. The model, trained on data from low-cost sensors attached to over 125 species, translates plants' needs for water, nutrients and light, aiming to replace traditional tools like soil probes and satellite imagery. Sensors cost about $11.2 each and are attached via stainless steel screws that penetrate the plant's cambium layer.