Zapping Mosquitos With Lasers Is a Real Thing, Thanks to AI

Inventor Steven Cheng has developed a series of AI-powered prototypes that use machine learning, computer vision, and lasers to detect and eliminate mosquitoes. The system, which includes a Canon DSLR camera, multi-sensor tracking, and a high-speed gimbal, is designed to "roast" the pests while avoiding harm to humans and household items. Cheng's mobile mosquito defense system, now in version 3.0, represents a practical application of artificial intelligence to combat disease-carrying insects.

As summer arrives, and mosquitoes celebrate another season of bloody conquest, you might be thinking, "Why do we even have all this AI tech if it can't do a single thing about these airborne pests?" There are plenty of reasons to complain about artificial intelligence, but its failure to fight mosquitoes is no longer one of them. Using machine learning, inventor Steven Cheng https://nenpower.com/ has developed a lethal series of prototypes designed to hunt down and zap the blood-sucking pests with lasers. Cheng has been chronicling the project on X https://x.com/stevencheng , where he shares videos of his mobile mosquito defense system. Built version 3.0 of AI mosquito defense system during the holiday. — Steven Cheng @stevencheng Now equipped with multi-sensor tracking, a redesigned high-speed gimbal, and a toy Gatling-style launcher for maximum mosquito elimination efficiency 0.6s full rotation. 0.001° precision. pic.twitter.com/0io4G3SIxx May 28, 2026 Cheng said in his posts https://x.com/stevencheng/status/2059836738449854898 that he spent four months developing an "artillery cannon guided by computer vision + deep learning" as "the ultimate mosquito killer." It uses a Canon digital single-lens reflex camera with a high-magnification zoom lens and software to identify mosquitoes. The research phase, he said in a video, resulted in "countless bites all over my body." The laser was tuned to "roast" mosquitoes without harming household items or people, which are both detected by the software. A wide-angle lens was also added to improve the system's ability to identify humans and flammable materials. Power to the laser is cut if either is in the targeting crosshairs. Subsequent versions https://x.com/stevencheng/status/2059950811954692451 of the weapon added mobility, putting the Canon on wheels for hunting, including outdoors. Cheng also added a Gatling-gun-style design and infrared vision to spot the insects even in the dark. Cheng didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Other mosquito defenses Not everyone is willing to build out a laser defense system to take out flying pests. Some of us just buy bug spray and gadgets such as Thermacells /home/yard-and-outdoors/thermacell-unveils-smart-repellent-system-to-fight-mosquitoes/ or hanging bug zappers /home/prime-day-has-my-favorite-bug-zapper-discounted-by-50/ . If you have good aim, the Bug-A-Salt https://www.bugasalt.com/products/gold-digger-fiber-optic-3-0 is a salt-firing pellet gun meant to take out not only mosquitoes but house flies, hornets, carpenter bees and other insects. Cheng isn't the only person using lasers in the fight against bugs. The base-mounted Photon Matrix was crowdfunded https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/jimwong-38623042/worlds-first-portable-mosquito-air-defense?refcode=35156 38623042 yutu link={%22role%22:%22standard%22,%22href%22:%22https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/jimwong-38623042/worlds-first-portable-mosquito-air-defense?refcode=35156 38623042 yutu%22,%22target%22:%22%22,%22absolute%22:%22%22,%22linkText%22:%22crowdfunded last year%22} on Indiegogo last year and is expected to ship this summer. The basic version costs about $500.