Jul 26, 2026 – 10.21amFirst it came for the jobs of humans, and now it’s targeting our best mates – artificial intelligence is nosing in on the once secure turf of canines, the airport sniffers, the truffle-hunters and the cadaver dogs.The digitising of dogs’ noses – teaching AI to smell – is the new frontier in technology’s relentless conquest and an Australian company that can detect a pregnant cow by sniffing its breath is at the forefront of the charge.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Greg BearupSenior writerGreg Bearup is a senior writer for The Australian Financial Review. Send encrypted tips to gregbearup_1234.09 on messaging platform Signal.Fetching latest articles
Why investors are backing this Australian start-up teaching AI to smell
Agscent’s smell technology is already boosting productivity for dairy farms. But its backers are targeting advances in health, industry and law enforcement.
TL;DRAI
Australian startup develops AI olfactory system detecting pregnant cows via breath analysis—automating roles historically filled by trained animals. Signals emergence of AI-driven sensory automation frontier affecting airport security, agriculture, and detection workflows; potential displacement of biological sensors.
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