International Advances in AI-Enabled Exploration of the Global Deep Ocean

Marine geoscience is a highly interdisciplinary field essential for understanding interactions among the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. Rapid advances in intelligent technologies have significantly accelerated frontier research, including crewed and uncrewed deep-sea submersibles, scientific ocean drilling, seafloor observatories, and big data–driven high-performance computing:
1) Probing Deep Earth processes: 10,000-m OBS arrays have enabled high-resolution imaging of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, improving constraints on subduction structures and deep-water cycling. Under-ice exploration of the Arctic Gakkel Ridge has further advanced models of ultraslow spreading dynamics.
2) Investigating seafloor resources and environments: AUVs equipped with multidisciplinary sensors have enabled near-bottom, multi-parameter observations and high-precision sampling in regions such as the Southwest Indian Ocean, promoting integrated understanding of hydrothermal vents and cold seep systems. 3) Coupled modeling of ocean systems: By combining observational data with supercomputing, end-to-end simulations of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake–tsunami, seafloor deformation, and transoceanic transport of Fukushima-derived contaminants have been achieved, highlighting the role of multi-system coupling in hazard assessment.
Despite these advances, major regional gaps remain (e.g., the Indian Ocean), where key questions on lithosphere–asthenosphere interaction, ocean–atmosphere coupling, marine hazards, and ecosystem responses remain poorly constrained. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated, interdisciplinary efforts.
Future priorities include next-generation autonomous platforms, ocean digital twin systems driven by big data, and AI-enhanced hazard prediction models, alongside strengthened international collaboration to advance marine information technology, advanced equipment, new materials, and marine energy innovation.