Planet AI launches natural language tool to analyze over a decade of global satellite imagery

Planet, a US satellite data company, introduced the Planet AI application on November 5, 2026. This new tool integrates large language models with an archive of over ten years of global satellite imagery, allowing users to search, observe, and analyze changes on Earth's surface using plain language. The platform, accessible for free via ai.planet.com, enables users to ask questions like tracking forest changes or identifying new construction sites. Crucially, Planet emphasizes that all AI conclusions are grounded in viewable original satellite imagery to mitigate risks from AI hallucinations. The system operates on a 'map + chat' interface, moving beyond traditional remote sensing tools that require specialized GIS skills. Planet's Planetary Intelligence strategy combines daily satellite observations with AI for near real-time understanding of planetary changes. Early testers have utilized the product for ecological monitoring—such as flagging illegal encroachment or wildfire risks—and for compliance checks, allowing industrial sites near waterways to be screened in minutes, a task that previously took days of manual GIS work.