John Deere's presence at CES and its self-identification as a tech company highlights its pivot from manufacturing to tech solutions.

• John Deere's CEO John May asserts the company is a leader in robotics and AI.
• The linguistic mimicry and CES presence suggest Deere's transition to a tech company.
• Deere's job listings show a focus on software, data, and robotics over manufacturing.

John Deere's history reflects its evolution from a small tool shop to an agricultural implement manufacturer and then to a machine company.

• John Deere's origins lie in a small Illinois storefront selling shovels and pitchforks.
• The invention of the self-scouring steel plow played a key role in Midwest agriculture.
• Deere expanded from plow manufacturing to a broader range of agricultural machines.

Deere's embrace of GPS technology and the inception of digital farming have profoundly impacted agricultural efficiency and precision.

• Rockwell International Corporation introduced the first digital farming tool with GPS.
• Deere developed its own precision farming tools, including the Starfire GPS system.
• Technological advancements allowed Deere to address the issue of overlapping in farming.

John Deere has continued to innovate with AI and machine learning, introducing products like See & Spray and aiming for fully autonomous systems.

• Deere's acquisition of Blue River Technology led to the development of smart sprayers.
• See & Spray technology reduces chemical usage and environmental impact.
• Deere aims to develop fully autonomous production systems for crops by 2030.

Technological advancements in farming, while beneficial, have also led to increased costs, dependency on tech, and consolidation in the industry.

• Innovations like See & Spray come with significant upfront and ongoing costs for farmers.
• Precision agriculture changes the traditional role and skills required of farmers.
• The right to repair debate highlights tensions between farmers and John Deere.

As farming becomes increasingly tech-driven, the traditional family farm is disappearing, giving way to larger, more efficient operations.

• Tech innovations benefit larger farms and catalyze industry consolidation.
• Rural economies are impacted as farming profits are distributed to distant investors.
• The family farm is becoming less viable in the face of technological progress.

Neural networks, a key technology behind innovations like John Deere's See & Spray, are explained through interactive learning resources.

• Neural networks mimic a brain's function digitally, enabling technologies like See & Spray.
• Brilliant.org offers courses to understand neural networks and other STEM topics.
• Learning about AI and machine learning can be beneficial for understanding modern tech.