China has integrated an artificial intelligence-driven identification system at the Zangmu Hydropower Station, located on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet. The system is designed to perform round-the-clock tracking of fish species as they navigate a fishway built into the 116-meter-tall dam. According to reports, the technology utilizes 'fish facial recognition' to identify specific species native to the region, a process that previously required labor-intensive manual observation.

The implementation of this technology aims to modernize environmental monitoring efforts in the area. By automating the identification process, researchers and dam operators can collect data on migration patterns more efficiently than traditional methods allowed. While the system is framed as a tool for ecological preservation and species management, the project highlights the broader trend of utilizing advanced AI surveillance tools for non-human monitoring in infrastructure projects. The Zangmu station, which began operations in recent years, serves as the primary site for this technological application, though the long-term impact of the dam on the river's ecosystem remains a subject of broader environmental discussion.