The Anthropocene is a complex period marked mainly by human impact on climate change and habitat destruction, demonstrating the importance of thinking critically and carefully about three interdependent elements: planetary boundaries, vulnerability and human agency.While the Anthropocene advances without letting up, Artificial Intelligence (AI) speeds up human influence, meaning it is highly likely to define the future path of the Anthropocene considerably.And, of course, it may do so in a negative or positive way.For now, we know that when examining the stratigraphy, future geologists will find evidence of large-scale human-produced greenhouse gas emissions, radionuclides on the planet from nuclear weapons testing, hundreds of metric tonnes of plastic produced annually, and enough concrete to cover the surface of the planet.
For the moment, we cannot be sure that AI is not just another element in this stratigraphy.Not surprisingly, the latest prestigious report “AI Index Report” from Stanford University notes that the use of AI and the necessary data centres involve high energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and an inordinate use of scarce materials associated with the production, use and lifespan of computing devices and infrastructure.Thus, while AI systems can also be used to optimise resources in general and energy consumption in particular, this is not currently the priority, as demonstrated by the emergence of generative AI.
Both Artificial Intelligence and the Anthropocene have entered public awareness and are useful concepts in which to frame climate justice.But they also make us reflect on whether all human beings are equally responsible for the damage caused from the Anthropocene to Artificial Intelligence.In this context, vulnerability to climate change and the destruction of habitats cannot only be subject to trade-offs between effective mitigation measures, but they must also take their place in the debate about environmental and global-scale social justice, and this requires, as a starting point, a responsible and sustainable use of the AI that leaves behind humanity’s hyperagency in relation to the planet.
To provide some answers and, of course, to open up more questions about engaging with sustainability, from the Anthropocene to Artificial Intelligence, the OEIAC is launching this new series of knowledge transfer seminars with invited guests from all over the world who work on and promote the development of responsible and sustainable AI.
The OEIAC Seminars Cycle starts on Thursday 25 May and will continue up to Thursday 3 November, the day of its closing ceremony.This series is for anyone interested in the use and implementation of responsible and sustainable AI in public and private organisations.
If you would like to get prior notification and more details before each of the seminars all you need to do is fill in this registration form.
Anybody wishing for more information can also contact us by email at suport.oeiac@udg.edu
Poster of the seminar cycle