Technology has played a vital role in our lives, which is connecting us. The other major way technology can help better our lives is by addressing the growing concern of climate change. Artificial Intelligence has a remarkable potential to facilitate a shift to sustainability.
Artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability have a fascinating intersection. We will discuss some ways in which some start-ups use AI to augment connectivity and data engineering to reach their goals of slowing down climate change and eventually eradicating it.
Connectivity is an important piece in the big puzzle of the environmental crisis and the role of AI in tackling it. While navigating the landscape of AI-based solutions to this challenge, Cox Customer Service quietly helps us stay connected, ensuring that assistance is only one call or click away.
Ways in Which AI Can Help
Due to its heavy data processing capabilities to recognize patterns and improve on them, AI plays a huge role in sustainability. Here are some ways AI can help:
Transportation
The automotive industry is a huge contributor to environmental pollution. AI can address this issue by:
- Picking more fuel-efficient routes
- Invention of intelligent cars
- Managing traffic to avoid bottlenecks
Weather Forecasting
Meteorology is not an exact science. However, we can expect more accurate results in predicting weather fluctuations like cyclones, heavy rains, and other things like heat waves and wildfires using AI-driven tools. This helps make precautionary measures for disaster relief and acquire large amounts of data to prevent them from happening.
Smart Agriculture
IoT and AI-enabled agriculture can help with many things that contribute to climate change. The major application of this water conservation. Fertilizers contribute to a lot of setbacks our environment is facing. With AI systems, farmers can optimize usage for a fruitful result with low quantities of fertilizer. Additionally, you can anticipate natural disasters with accuracy to be able to take preventative measures.
Urban Planning
Poor and aggressive urban planning also contributes heavily to climate change. Deforestation, massive construction, and obstructing air and water flow are some of these issues. Artificial intelligence can be used to make more informed decisions with the help of accurate prediction of the outcomes of any developmental initiative.
Ground-breaking AI-based Start-Ups
In this dire state of affairs, some start-ups give us hope for a better tomorrow. Some companies are using AI in some of the aforementioned areas. Google for Startups Accelerator is nurturing startups that help mitigate the effects of climate change. Four startups stand out the most.
- Mortar IO uses AI to devise strategies for reducing carbon emissions in large real estate portfolios. Their digitized carbon emission audits assist organizations in developing a net-zero carbon footprint.
- AgroScout helps combat food scarcity from climate change by using sustainable cultivation methods and reducing the greenhouse effect. They do so by monitoring the crops using AI to diagnose diseases and pests for more effective treatments. This reduces the use of agrochemicals that are harmful to the environment.
- Eugene.ai is for some industries with the highest carbon emission rates, like metal and oil refineries and mining. This program uses AI to help these companies raise their bottom line and practice higher compliance with environmental regulations. They do so by processing satellite imagery and collecting data that guides decisions in optimizing their operations.
- Refiberd combines AI with robotics to recycle surplus textiles to separate fabric blends. This is normally very hard to execute. They blend all kinds of rejected fabric to make new fabric. They also use tech to remove impurities in the fabric, like buttons and zippers and remove them, preserving a lot of material.
There are several limitations to working with AI tools. It is still one of the stronger tools in our belt. It has the potential to outperform the current technologies to combat the rate of climate change. This is why it can accelerate our efforts to slow down climate change.
The environmental crisis we are in currently can be attributed to the abuse and overuse of technology. The smartphone industry alone has produced a shocking 580 million tons of C02 emissions. One thing mankind needs to watch out for is the adverse impacts of the overuse of AI technology. We don’t want to jump from this figurative frypan into literal fire.
To make AI an ally in climate and not the reverse, there has to be a certain regulatory structure that is fair and inclusive for the use of AI. Technology is a virtue and can be a vice just as easily. Conscious use of technology is imperative for better outcomes.