Our world is changing, but not because of artificial intelligence (AI), but because of us. AI does not make decisions, humans do. As results, our decisions to make advances in technology, production and consumption can help or hurt the environment.
At this point in time, humanity is experiencing an incredible rate of change, both positive and negative. We’ve seen huge leaps in technological advancement across the world, including the rise of robot automation and machine learning. In addition, we’ve seen positive political progress, new energy sources and major leaps in health and healthcare.
However, these advances have not come without consequences as we continue to deplete natural resources, produce and use large amounts of emissions, and create huge amounts of plastic and waste. We are seeing devastating environmental effects, particularly climate change, that are drastically altering and damaging our planet. This short-term gain in comfort, convenience and advancement comes at a steep cost.
The only thing that can save us is if we make conscious choices to shift away from consumerism and towards sustainable habits. We must use our skills and resources to find alternative energy sources, embrace responsible consumerism, partner with other nations and organizations to invest in and protect our oceans and rainforests, and of course turn away from the production of single-use plastic.
Ultimately, the future of our world is in our hands. AI is only a tool, a means we use to create solutions and advances, but the solutions come from decisions made by us. It is up to us to make the choices to implement sustainable solutions and to take the leaps away from consumerist trends, in order to protect our planet for future generations.
