Question

Using sociological, economic, psychological, cultural and political factors argue for Artificial Intelligence support to environmental sustainability vs Artificial Intelligence as a hindrance to sustainability in 2000 words

Answer 1

An effective environment protection policy is largely dependent on the quality of information available and the utility of contemporary technologies like Artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning and data analytics that can be used to take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time.

Artificial Intelligence finds application in a wide array of environmental sectors, including resource conservation, wildlife protection, clean energy, energy management, waste management, pollution control and agriculture.

AI is considered to be the most dynamic game-changer in the global economy. According to a World Economic Forum report, Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for the Earth, AI refers to computer systems that “can sense their environment, think, learn, and act in response to what they perceive and their programmed purposes.” AI has helped environment researchers clinch almost 90 per cent accuracy in spotting climate change factors like tropical cyclones, weather fronts, tidal changes and atmospheric rivers, which can cause heavy precipitation and are often impossible for humans to identify on their own.

Installation of Small Grids in cities can utilize artificial intelligence techniques to regulate and control parts of neighborhood power grid to deliver exactly the amount of electricity needed, or requested from its dependents, against the use of conventional power grids that can be wasteful due to unplanned power distribution. With AI-driven autonomous vehicles waiting to break into the automobile market, techniques like route optimization, eco-driving algorithms and ride-sharing services would help in streamlining the carbon footprint and reducing the overall number of vehicles on the road.

Taking a nod from natural patterns, material scientists and architects have developed innovative building material from natural resources, such as bricks made of bacteria, cement that captures carbon dioxide, and cooling systems that use wind and sun. Solar power is increasingly present within cities and outside to supply larger urban area. These are the first early steps towards sustainable infrastructure cutting costs and helping to make us environmentally conscious.

Controlling industrial emissions and waste management is another challenge that can be dealt with the advanced learning machines and smart networks that could detect leaks, potential hazards and diversions from industrial standards and governmental regulations.

Both United States based companies use machine learning algorithms in connection with satellites to predict weather, analyze crop sustainability and evaluate farms for the presence of diseases and pests. Adaptive irrigation systems in which the land is automatically irrigated based on the data collected from the soil via sensors by an AI system is also gaining wide popularity among the farmers for its important role in water management.

The long list of technology and economy shapers, who believe that artificial intelligence, often encompassing machine learning and deep learning, is a “game changer” for climate change and environmental issues, includes Microsoft, Google, IBM and Tesla among others.

Modern technologies like artificial intelligence, geographic information system tools and movement detectors, are revamping the way wildlife reserves and conservation bodies are working across India.AI can also help prophesy the spread of invasive materials, keep a track of marine litter and measure water pollution levels.

Artificial Intelligence as a hindrance to Sustainability

It is important to realize that the creation of a strong AI does not necessarily require the understanding of how the natural intelligence works.

Artificial Intelligence is associated with several threats of varying degrees of severity that are relevant.

1. The first threat to humans may not necessarily be presented by a strong, general, human-level or super-human AI, as it would be enough to have an autonomous system capable of processing massive amounts of data at high speeds. Such a system could be used as the basis for so-called lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), the simplest example being drone assassins.
2. Second threat could be posed by a state in gaining access to weapons system based on more adaptive, autonomous and general AI with improved reaction times and better predictive ability.
3. Third threat for the entire world would be a situation based on the previous threat, in which several states would enter a new round of the arms race, perfecting the intelligence levels of autonomous weapon systems.
4. Fourth threat to any party would be presented by any intellectual system with enough autonomy and adaptivity to be capable, not only of deliberate activity, but also of autonomous conscious target-setting, which could run counter to the individual and collective goals of humans. Such a system would have far more opportunities to achieve these goals due to its higher operating speeds, greater information processing performance and better predictive ability.
5. Fifth threat to society in the form of the transition to a new level in the development of production relations in the capitalist society, in which a minority comes to control material production and excludes an overwhelming majority of the population from this sector thanks to ever-growing automation. This may result in greater social stratification, the reduced effectiveness of “social elevators” and an increase in the numbers of people made redundant, with adverse social consequences.
6. Sixth is the another potential threat to humanity in general is the increasing autonomy of global data processing, information distribution and decision-making systems growing, since information distribution speeds within such systems, and the scale of their interactions, could result in social phenomena that cannot be predicted based on prior experience and the existing models.

Countries and civil societies develop incredible AI application systems with diverse features, but sometimes these systems do not take into consideration the good of individuals and society. So, it is important to develop systems which can deliver the change required to build a clean, resource-secure and inclusive economy, enabled by technology and supported by public policy and investment.

For any country to maximally benefit from the AI revolution, it must adopt a deliberate policy to drive AI innovation and proliferation in sectors affecting climate change. With powerful economies making rapid progress in AI-based research, it is imperative that the World looks at AI as a critical element of environmental sustainability. Aiming for sustainability is an opportunity of this generation. AI and other Fourth Industrial revolution ideas are the new innovative solutions that can revolutionize environmental protection measures.