John Deere is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction, forestry, and turf equipment that increasingly combines machinery, automation, AI, and precision technology to help customers improve productivity and efficiency.
You've navigated the evolution of autonomous and AI solutions at John Deere for more than a decade. What is it like to be in your role at this particular moment, when suddenly everyone is talking about AI?
It is a fascinating time to be at the intersection of technology and agriculture. When I joined John Deere in 2013, the world looked very different. We were helping farmers understand the value of wirelessly transferring machine data into cloud-based systems to improve efficiency.
What I learned very quickly was that farmers are willing to adopt new technology once they clearly see the value it delivers.
I see the same pattern with AI today. Farmers have already been using automation through technologies such as AutoTrac for many years. We have built trust over time, and now we can layer advanced sensors and AI capabilities onto technology they already know. The result is better decision-making, reduced labor demands, and solutions that fit naturally into their existing workflows.
Can you tell us more about John Deere's See & Spray technology and the impact it has had so far on agriculture?
See & Spray is one of the most impactful technologies we have introduced. We launched it in 2021, and it is now in its fifth year of production. Working closely with farmers, we have continued to improve the technology, particularly by increasing operating speeds while maintaining accuracy.
The system uses computer vision and machine learning models running in real time at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. In 2025 alone, See & Spray covered 5 million acres and helped save more than 31 million gallons of herbicide. Previously, farmers had to spray entire fields, even when weeds were only present in certain areas. Now the machine targets only the weeds, reducing costs while also delivering environmental benefits.
What about John Deere's partnership with NVIDIA?
Our equipment combines many different technologies, and NVIDIA is one of several important partners helping us advance our capabilities. We also work with companies such as Starlink on connectivity, bringing together leading technology providers to solve agricultural challenges.
We are in a unique position because we can connect the world's most advanced technology companies with agricultural producers around the globe. NVIDIA plays an important role as we look at opportunities for more computing power at the edge. Modern tractors contain significant computing capability, and we want to ensure we are using the most efficient technologies available.
It seems that agriculture has become an unexpected success story of AI adoption. Why do you think the industry has embraced these technologies successfully? And can we establish that farmers trust AI?
One thing that surprised me when I joined John Deere was just how innovative farmers are. Agriculture has always been an industry built on continuous improvement. Every season brings new challenges, from labor shortages and changing weather patterns to evolving seed and chemical technologies, so farmers are constantly looking for ways to optimize their operations.
Trust is absolutely foundational. Farmers face increasing pressure to produce more food, fuel, and infrastructure resources for a growing global population while dealing with ongoing labor shortages. Our role is to ensure the technology delivers real results. By putting these solutions into the field, proving their value, and supporting customers through our dealer network, we continue to build confidence in AI-driven systems and automation.
What challenges do farmers still expect you to solve?
Our customers are dealing with enormous amounts of information from satellites, machine sensors, weather forecasts, climate data, and many other sources. One of their biggest challenges is turning all of that information into better decisions and more efficient operations.
Our approach is not to position AI as the solution to everything. Instead, we spend time on farms understanding the real challenges and then apply technologies such as autonomy, computer vision, and machine learning where they can create meaningful value. We focus on outcomes farmers care about, such as reducing herbicide use or improving productivity, rather than expecting them to become experts in AI terminology.
Labor shortages remain a major issue in agriculture. Could advanced technology make farming more attractive to younger generations?
The labor challenge is significant. The average farmer today is around 58 years old, and many are thinking about succession planning while also trying to find skilled workers to help during each season. Labor shortages are not new; they have been a challenge for decades.
What is interesting is whether new technologies can help bring more people back into agriculture. Farming has traditionally involved long hours and difficult work. Our responsibility is to make that work easier and more efficient. If technology can reduce some of those burdens, it may encourage a new generation to see agriculture as an attractive career path.
What are your priorities over the next 12 months, and what AI-driven capabilities are you most excited about bringing to market?
This is one of the most exciting periods in my career. What I appreciate about John Deere is that we focus on meaningful technology that solves real problems. Over the past few years, we introduced See & Spray, launched autonomous tractors, and then followed with second-generation versions of those technologies.
One area I am particularly excited about is harvest automation. We recently introduced capabilities that combine satellite imagery, field terrain data, and machine intelligence to automatically adjust combine speeds in real time. Looking ahead, we will continue building on technologies farmers already trust, helping them optimize inputs, improve decision-making, and address ongoing labor shortages.
