ECO INSIGHTS

How can Artificial Intelligence contribute to the environment?

If there is an expression that has made headlines in the news, reports, commercials and research in recent years, it is certainly artificial intelligence (AI). The term was at the top of Google’s list of most searched technologies in 2023, this demonstrates the strength of Artificial Intelligence and how it is gaining space in our daily lives.

Very driven by the creation and launch of Generative AI and tools like ChatGPT. The technology is used to create commercials, search for automation in industry, create tools that can increase the accuracy of medical and legal services, translate texts in real time, increase the energy efficiency of industries and a whole host of possibilities .

Firstly, it is important to understand what AI is. We can define it as a branch of study and activity in Computer Science, which allows machines, computers and other electronic devices to simulate human intelligence and the ability we have to perform tasks and learn from patterns and examples and make decisions autonomously.

Artificial intelligence can be classified as light, which will perform simple and repetitive tasks such as translating texts, identifying images and patterns, but it can also be considered deep ( deep learning ), in which a machine is programmed to learn complex tasks and analyze various factors at the same time, as is the case with autonomous cars, which need to monitor traffic, road signs, pedestrian movement, animals, understand the speed limit, drive defensively to avoid accidents and other possibilities.

However, this new technology still faces some dilemmas that can cause problems, such as algorithms that can develop texts, monographs, theses and forge human writing work or even  deep learning  programmed to increase agricultural production, but without ethical constraints, the increase production may occur due to an increase in planted area, deforestation, greater use of pesticides or better cultural practices. There are still elements that limit the use of this technology.

But artificial intelligence can be a great ally for companies, governments and civil society to improve the environment. We can use the power of data processing and the search for patterns to seek innovative, efficient solutions that seek to increase process efficiency, reduce costs and develop products and services with less environmental impact.

Below we list some alternatives where AI can contribute positively to the environment and industries:

  1. Climate disaster prevention – possibility of monitoring natural climate conditions and identifying patterns related to climate disasters. It is possible to analyze air humidity, solar radiation, wind speed, sea level, temperature, cloud movement. All of this can be used to issue warnings against storms, floods, ultraviolet radiation, the possibility of tsunamis;
  2. Energy consumption – there are already systems that monitor the electricity consumption of data centers, offices and other corporate environments. Parameters such as external temperature, internal temperature, air humidity and the need for air conditioning are monitored. This way, air conditioning occurs on demand, with less electricity wasted, reducing energy consumption and consequent greenhouse gas emissions;
  3. Waste management and recycling – automation of waste collection makes it possible to establish better routes for waste collection, prioritizing locations with greater storage and avoiding travel to locations with little volume of waste. When sorting, systems with computer vision can identify the types and colors of waste and direct the different types to suitable treatment, recycling or composting locations.
  4. Deforestation prevention – software can be programmed to monitor satellite images and evaluate the evolution over time of vegetation patterns, increase in urban area, deforestation and fires. This is an applicability already used by environmental agencies, which monitor green areas using AI that compares the history of vegetation cover.
  5. Precision agriculture – imagine increasing productivity with less use of inputs, savings on fertilizer and less need to irrigate crops? This is an alternative that AI can bring to agriculture with real-time monitoring of air temperature, solar incidence, air and soil humidity, pest control and analysis of soil parameters. Through real-time data analysis, interventions such as fertilization, irrigation and application of pesticides are personalized, avoiding waste of inputs, natural and financial resources.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence can bring many gains and opportunities, being a great ally in contributing to environmental sustainability on various scales, sectors and organizations. AI brings the possibility of increasing process efficiency, saving natural resources, reducing costs and innovative solutions.

References:

Artificial intelligence and sustainability – eCycle

Artificial intelligence and sustainability: how AI managing energy can help the planet | Exam

Have you ever imagined how artificial intelligence can help save the planet? | LinkedIn

5 most searched technologies on Google in 2023 – Forbes

How artificial intelligence can help contain climate change | CNN Brazil