Why does it need robots? Seems much simpler with a few guys with pumps.

Because then there's no VC money to be made. It needs at least robots. And I bet they were better off, if those robots were "smart" and AI-powered!

Investors, idk. But the proven solutions - dikes and pumping out the water, or pumping slurry - are too boring.

If the goal is accurate predictions, then the market works much better with insider trading like this.

Could you name 3?

That sounds like an extremely pseudo-scientific book. For the real explanation, see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_activity