John Deere has begun testing "JD", a new AI chatbot designed to help farmers make decisions by drawing on their own field, machine and operational data. The assistant can answer questions on topics such as equipment settings, fuel usage and harvest timing, aiming to improve efficiency and profitability based on historical trends specific to each farm.

The tool is currently in an Early Access Program for a select group of US customers within the John Deere Operations Center, with wider rollout planned across web and mobile platforms, and eventually to in-cab displays on tractors and other equipment. John Deere has not disclosed which underlying AI technology powers the chatbot, but has published a ten-point Farmer Data Commitment alongside the launch, pledging not to sell farmers' data, giving them control over third-party sharing, and ruling out use of the data for commodity trading. This comes after years of disputes with farmers and the US Federal Trade Commission over right-to-repair issues.