Artificial intelligence, or AI, has become synonymous with disruption.
Every week seems to bring a new warning. AI will replace jobs, spread misinformation, consume enormous amounts of energy or make decisions no human can explain. As the technology races ahead, it’s easy to forget that AI can also tackle some of humanity’s oldest challenges.
For Hannah Kerner, that’s always been the point.
Kerner is an assistant professor of computer science and engineering in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. She isn’t using AI to write emails or generate viral images. Kerner and her team develop AI systems that use satellite data to help farmers grow food, support communities recovering from natural disasters and make environmental information accessible to the people who need it most.
That vision of AI as a tool for public good has earned Kerner a national recognition. She has been selected as the 2026 U.S. nominee for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE), a prestigious competition recognizing outstanding early-career scientists whose research combines scientific excellence with the potential to address pressing challenges across the Asia-Pacific region. The international winner, selected from nominees representing APEC member economies, will be announced in August.
Kerner chats with attendees following the ceremony. Photo courtesy of the National Center for APEC Foundation
For Kerner, the recognition reflects years spent pursuing a vision of AI that puts people at the center.
As the AI lead for NASA Harvest and NASA Acres, Kerner develops technology that transforms massive amounts of satellite imagery into practical insights for agriculture, conservation and disaster response. Her research has helped create tools that monitor crop health, identify drought conditions and support food security initiatives around the world. Just as importantly, she has focused on making those tools usable by farmers, local governments and community organizations that don’t have teams of AI experts.
It’s a philosophy that runs through nearly every project in the Kerner Lab.
Whether collaborating with Indigenous farming communities in HawaiĘ»i, developing open-source Earth observation models or designing AI systems that allow users to ask questions in plain language rather than code, Kerner’s work asks a simple question: How can artificial intelligence help people make better decisions?
“It is an incredible honor to be selected as the U.S. nominee for the APEC ASPIRE Prize,” Kerner said. “I’m grateful to my students, collaborators and partners at ASU, NASA and around the world whose dedication has made this work possible. This recognition reflects our shared belief that AI can be a powerful tool for addressing critical global challenges. I look forward to representing the United States and showcasing the impact that collaborative, people-centered AI research can have around the world.”
Established by APEC’s Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation, the ASPIRE Prize recognizes scientists whose research demonstrates excellence, innovation and a commitment to international collaboration. The 2026 competition centers on the theme “Advancing Scientific Research in AI and Data Science to Promote Industrial Innovation and Economic Resilience.” Each APEC member economy nominates one early-career researcher to compete for the regional prize.
Kerner (second from right) and a team from the Kerner Lab visit a farm in the island of Maui in Hawai’i. The researchers are using artificial intelligence to share NASA satellite insights with Maui farmers. Photo courtesy of the Kerner Lab
The nomination is the latest in a series of honors for Kerner, whose research has rapidly gained international attention. Over the past two years, she received a 2025 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award, was named a Schmidt Sciences AI2050 Early Career Fellow and has led Fields of The World, an ambitious project supported by the Taylor Geospatial Engine and Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab that uses AI to create one of the world’s most comprehensive open maps of agricultural fields.
Together, those accomplishments reflect a growing movement within AI research that measures success by how effectively it improves human lives.
“Hannah’s research embodies the future of artificial intelligence that we strive to advance in the school,” said Ross Maciejewski, director of the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence. “This recognition celebrates both her remarkable scientific achievements and her vision for using AI to improve lives. We couldn’t be prouder to see her represent ASU and the United States on the international stage.”
At a moment when public debate often focuses on what AI might take away, Kerner’s work offers a reminder of what it can give back: better information, stronger communities and a little more resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.