NASA’s Perseverance rover has completed its first Mars drive fully planned by artificial intelligence, demonstrating that generative AI can autonomously map safe routes across the planet’s rugged terrain.

Conducted in December 2025, the AI analyzed images and terrain data, identified hazards like rocks and slopes, and set navigation waypoints—tasks normally done by human planners on Earth.

During the two test drives, Perseverance traveled nearly 1,500 feet along Jezero Crater, with the AI evaluating multiple route options before execution.

The mission used a detailed “digital twin” of the rover to ensure the AI-generated plan was safe before sending it across the 140-million-mile distance from Earth, Space.com has reported.

NASA says the technology could enable future rovers to handle longer, more complex drives while reducing operator workload and highlighting interesting scientific targets.