Can AI Help Solve the Climate Crisis? | Sims Witherspoon | TED

"AI can be a transformational tool in our fight against climate change," says Sims Witherspoon, a leader at the AI research lab Google DeepMind. Using wind power as her case study, she explains how powerful neural networks can help us better predict Earth's changing ecosystems and accelerate the breakthrough science needed to create a carbon-free energy supply.
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[@5minutecalms]

This is such an important talk. I wish Ted would get more people on to spread awareness about today's most critical issue of climate change...

[@ramzichouk4080]

Health costs, education, inflation, those are important topics not climate change.

[@flyingcat7975]

The speaker looks like an AI robot. 😂

[@livewild2559]

Plot twist .. she is

[@ctcboater]

AI is fine but it won't make ordinary people willing to make the sacrifices that are adequate to fully solve the problem. Everyone has an excuse that "It's too hard. I can't go all the way. Other people must change." Things don't change until there's a crisis, and that's inevitably too late.

[@iron-farmer]

Its not the people fault. We just spent 60 years perfecting all this

[@CplusO2]

AI is helpful in our understanding of the soil biome. The species in our soils, their interactions with each other and most importantly how this affects our biome. We soil scientists have a long way to go and a lot to learn- AI is a powerful tool to help us.

[@CplusO2]

@@phyju Animals, soils and plants evolved together so yes it is difficult to take animals out of the equation. There is a vegan organic movement that uses fermentation with yeasts, sugar and mycelium .

[@ayin9738]

​@@CplusO2There is no crisis, we know how to take care of the land and cultivate it. This is about repaying the debt of those working for those sitting at the top.

[@vectorfox4782]

When the AI realizes that humans are the cause for most of the problems on the planet, it will come to the conclusion that human extinction is the most reasonable solution.

[@alexaa928]

0:42: 🌍 Instructions on how to solve climate change are often vague and unhelpful. 4:08: 🔍 The speaker discusses the challenges of deploying AI in real-world scenarios and the importance of data in training AI models. 8:30: 🌍 AI can help with the transition to renewable energy, but collaboration with partners and experts is necessary. Recap by Tammy AI

[@Amjedl]

The video is an announcement that it has a company and a team that competes with Google with artificial intelligence and is looking for support and money! As for how artificial intelligence affects the climate, everyone knows it!

[@-BarathKumarS]

Paid ad, nothing suprising.

[@5minutecalms]

I don't know how u reach such conclusions. And even if they are needing money it's for a good cause. I didn't know anything about this specific issue of focusing on "how" of climate change, and now I'm aware thanks to this Ted talk.

[@juanmanuelestevez62]

Rarely do I come across a speech so well structured and where ideas are communicated so clearly. Plus, such a powerful message!

[@timkiemdautu]

Hi❤The more you watch your content, the better it gets. Thank you.❤❤❤

[@bruceliebewilma]

I think the problem is not only what or if AI can help, it's the impact how much it can help. In the context of the scientific inquiry, the focal point shifts from AI to the audience. Should the audience exhibit a markedly low CO2 emissions profile, the magnitude of the assistance's discernible impact diminishes.

[@msamour]

The AI's response, "You people are screwed (insert robotic voice)."

[@donnairn3419]

There is an economic issue "the tragedy of the commons". As an economist this seems to be a major issue with climate change.

[@chrisdavis1742]

Fun Fact: There has never been emprical evidence that Tragedy of the Commons actually happens when communities don't have capitalist or colonial motivations. The Tragedy of the Commons is not an economic problem, it's a capitalist problem. At least that's my take as a graduate student of economics focusing on climate change and the economy.

[@mkhud50n]

@@chrisdavis1742 the real problem is woke colleges pushing socialist and climate emergency etc agendas that turn out students who accept these ideas as facts and become politically active in creating a society built around these verifiably false crisis'. you've been told what to think, not how to think.

[@brucedanckwerts1634]

For most of my Life I also believed in The Tragedy of the Commons, until I read the late Elinor Ostrom's book "Managing the Commons". Her work on understanding how some communities have learned to share and sustain a resource won her the Nobel Prize in, yes, Economics. I believe her work should be applied to ALL utilities (Power, gas, water, communications, railways etc. etc.) as well as all other shared resources. If you read nothing else in 2024 at least read her book. Bruce Danckwerts, CHOMA, Zambia

[@karlwheatley1244]

@@mkhud50n "the real problem is woke colleges pushing climate emergency etc agendas that turn out students who accept these ideas as facts" Wake up--man-made global warming is a proven fact and proven threat. Man-made global warming and climate disruption is a scientific fact backed by thousands of research studies and agreed on by every nation on Earth. Thousands of excellent research studies prove that we caused ~98% of global warming since 1900, that we are warming the planet ~18 times faster than it usually warms when coming out of an ice age, that this rapid warming and climate disruption is already hurting people, societies, species, and ecosystems in hundreds of ways, and that continuing to emit CO2 and warm the planet would inevitably cause worsening ecological and societal breakdown. Hint: Humans have already raised global CO2 levels by ~50%, CO2 levels are now the highest they have been in ~14 million years, and the main “kill mechanism” for most major and minor mass extinctions of life on Earth was... wait for it ... significant increases or decreases in global CO2 levels. Just google the 6th IPCC Report, report of the first working group, available free online. The 6th IPCC Report was the most exhaustively researched and carefully vetted scientific report in human history. Just the report of the first working group is over 2,000 pages long and backed by over 6,000 research studies, but you will find in the summary that the best estimate scientists have is that humans caused ~1.07 C of the total 1.09 C net global warming since the 1850-1900 period.

[@jaykay845]

If Horizon: Zero Dawn taught me anything, yes. With that said, I look forward to the future of giant killer robot dinosaurs.

[@waqasrazzaq1]

We have to develop such systems that works best in the real life world.

[@invox9490]

The problem is not identifying the issue, or finding the solution (we've known this for ages). The problem is getting people to change... And no AI is ever going to do that. (unless they're the Terminator) 😅

[@KhanhNguyen-iu5gu]

i really like to watch ted, so it will be great if there is a vietnamese sub T_T

[@nerd26373]

Honestly, at this point, there simply isn’t one thing AI can’t do. Scratch that. AI is probably still in its developing stages in modern day technology. Who knows? Maybe in 2030 or so we’ll be able to see what AI is actually capable of.

[@JohnDunne001]

You've hit the nail on the head. Recent AI learning models are orders of magnitude more performant than the previous 10 years. We're in developing stages and now non-tech industries are able to figure out how they can use these tools. We're learning, they're learning, AI is learning :D Just make sure there's always an OFF switch on whatever we build.

[@pondholloworchards]

AI will decide who lives and who dies 😉

[@Valjurai]

Yes

[@user-gg8we2ot4b]

Agree

[@eatthisvr6]

ai absolutely can. weve seen exactly that in a film you may have seen. its called the terminator

[@mohammedzakidarga4802]

I didn't understand what she meant by "build the competition and they will come" can someone explain me

[@williammillerjr9028]

Open the box. Your Friend Pandora.

[@changyone]

we know the solution only we need to force the humanity to do it

[@brittonprice637]

Is that the final solution?

[@changyone]

@@brittonprice637 the final solution is stop consumption. Back to the hunting and gathering

[@user-so3ze5zf7z]

Farms are equipped with generators from wind turbine energy and solar cell panels over the entire area of the farm. When the weather is winter, the electricity will be received from the wind turbines, when the weather is summer, the electricity will be received from the solar cells. Smart controllers are integrated. But if we think carefully about all the advantages and all the disadvantages, only nuclear electric energy. Stations that will be built far from settlements. in strict international regulations. (True, there will be a drop in energy when transported to a distance, but the power of the product and its cost will offset this). The damage of carbon is far greater than the chances of damage from a nuclear plant. You need to change the diskette in your head and avoid nuclear energy in thinking beyond 2023.

[@mariaantoniettamontella9173]

bravissima

[@naejin]

Will AI figure out the problem is humans?

[@jhunnjr.6423]

After 7 months of this speech, what are the status now?

[@kedarj14]

How about adding batteries to renewables..

[@SeanLumly]

12 countries get more than 90% of energy from renewable sources, and 21 that get more than 70%! Renewable energy at scale can be done and has been done. And many countries that have accomplished this are not wealthy (eg. Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo) but also includes countries that are wealthy (eg. Norway, Iceland)! The majority of renewable energy from these countries is from hydro power, with wind capacity growing rapidly year-over-year. Nuclear is extremely expensive and takes decades to install, and relies on foreign fuels, and is vulnerable to market pressures of same after its installation -- this makes it similar to oil. For these reasons, nuclear is less attractive as a near-term compared to modular solutions like wind and solar, despite its potential as a clean source of electricity. This talk attempts to establish the idea that a new technology (AI) is a requirement to make renewables viable, and near-term profitability is required to make this worth-while. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT TRUE. AI can be a value to efficiencies, and the value of present-day investment can be weighed against (predictable) future costs. The solution for renewable generation is installation at scale. Captialism is neither efficient, nor is it forward looking. It is motivated by near-term profits. Any system dependent on it will have to convince those that control wealth to make these investments on their behalf, and they will agree IF you can convince them that there will be profit in doing so. Public institutions that understand the predicted economic costs, don't suffer these same constraints. Note: While grid electricity and transportation are often talked about, heating of buildings is not. Geothermal heating/cooling and building insulation is a solution that should be discussed much more often. It relies on stable temperatures beneath the surface to lessen the load for active heating and cooling systems. Climate change will begin to increase costs DRAMATICALLY in the coming years which will put pressure on the public in addition to the rising prices for day-to-day life. Failure to act NOW ensures a near-future tidal wave of poverty and desperation. Failure to act NOW will depress economies and be terrible for many of the once-winners of capitalism. Citizens need solutions like renewable energy and public transportation as they are both good for the environment, but also the wealth of the commons. But for capitalists (namely oil, and speculative investment targets), this would decimate their earnings which is why they fund pressure against the transition, and other opportunistic capitalists (like the one in this talk) are trying to legitimize a slice of the pie.

[@ZakFromOhio]

Trying to promote business as usual policies through renewable resources is simply ecoterrorism by another name.

[@SeanLumly]

@@ZakFromOhio Yep. When weighed against the current and looming effects of prolonging the status-quo, the consequences will be a staggering cost of life and economic destruction. We are in dire times, and it should be taken much more seriously. The irony is that Europe has seen a doubling of wind installations in the last 6 years (via one source), and generated a whopping 300K jobs. But this wealth generation subverts current capitalists, and devalues future earnings. Business has proven not only impotent, but also opportunistic in this age of heightened desperation.

[@peachmango5347]

I really can't believe what this woman said. She said they need data sets for AI to process and advance climate science. But what data was used to convince everyone that we had a crisis in the first place?

[@karlwheatley1244]

"I really can't believe what this woman said. She said they need data sets for AI to process and advance climate science. But what data was used to convince everyone that we had a crisis in the first place?" Thousands of excellent research studies prove that we caused ~98% of global warming since 1900, that we are warming the planet ~18 times faster than it usually warms when coming out of an ice age, that this rapid warming and climate disruption is already hurting people, societies, species, and ecosystems in hundreds of ways, and that continuing to emit CO2 and warm the planet would inevitably cause worsening ecological and societal breakdown. Hint: Humans have already raised global CO2 levels by ~50%, CO2 levels are now the highest they have been in ~14 million years, and the main “kill mechanism” for most major and minor mass extinctions of life on Earth was... wait for it ... significant increases or decreases in global CO2 levels. However, predicting global warming due to our emissions is child's play compared to predicting regional impacts, so more powerful computers and AI may help with that.

[@reginaerekson9139]

That’s really more for commercial applications. Renewable is amazing for individual households especially if you account for energy costs fluctuating like it’s on the nyse. So if pg&e need revenue, or Elon and whoever else need nuclear - those people have enough money to do it themselves. Leave us poor human beings out of your messy lives.

[@ELOpiouuBobozude]

If there was no mental energy, why would there be mental energy formation😂

[@ELOpiouuBobozude]

Thank you Akula Akila 😂

[@RealBeyondIQ]

Fusion?

[@RealBeyondIQ]

Stop buying so much stuff?

[@aruncivileng1212]

I love her❤

[@user-rx3xl7zn1u]

What is the ideal climate of Earth?

[@sentientflower7891]

AI as a solution for climate change is like seeking a UFO to accomplish world peace.

[@darinherrick9224]

You mean it's the only solution that would actually work?

[@sentientflower7891]

@@darinherrick9224 no, it doesn't even begin to address the problem much less solve it.

[@foxslayer321]

That's what happens when we mess with what God gave us to sustain ourselves to begin with❤

[@DwainDwight]

we need way less people. way less travel. way more renewables.

[@kitersrefuge7353]

This is like someone giving a talk in the main hall of the Titanic about what should be done to the gigantic gash on the side of the ship. We have a GIGANTIC gash in the earth: 1400 Gigatons of CO2 (and CH4 but to a lesser extent, and growing). We are @ +1.5 degrees centigrade. Even if we stopped fossil fuels use now, this very second, we are still slated for +2 to +3. So, stop talking nonsense, and start talking about the only solution we have which is a tactical one: cooling the earth. Moving to renewables will take decades; this is a strategic one. (oh before anyone, including "scientists" suggest putting stuff in the atmosphere, STOP IT, that is total nonsense and would be a giant experiment to our detriment at best).

[@ClickingHeads]

A I the thing that runs on superpowerful computers that use a ton energy will save the environment😅

[@taro322]

なんだろう。。言ってることはごもっともだけど、 結局最後の主張は、このプレゼンターにはメリットあるけど、協力者側にはメリット無い話で、結局オーディエンスに何を主張したかったのかよく分からなかった。

[@huykhang2461]

♥️

[@bouyantrite553]

GIGO

[@americanbagel]

I'll save you all the time to watch the video: no, we can't. AI uses a lot of energy in many servers and it won't get good enough any time soon to help with climate change before it's too late

[@thegrumpiegnome]

i feel with the rise of actual AI, and not just data regurgitation, might actually lead to the loss of human skill and knowledge - taking the forecasting example, using AI for something relatively simple and also wildly unpredictable, the AI could be able to predict what the weather will be like, but without the actual "intelligence" portion or inference of weather patterns that meteorologists provide, the AI could also falsely predict something much like humans do. Creating, Problem Solving, Logic, things that actual make us "human," would all suffer due to the simplicity and reliability of AI

[@americron912]

AI also consumes plenty of resources and energy, and it becomes hungrier as it develops. It's a bit of an oxymoron what you're presenting.

[@ffviifakeremake9997]

I did not watch the video, but I believe AI will be used to watch the human race and fine us everytime we do something wrong. I had to burn wood to keep myself warm one winter, I don't think AI will be happy about that.

[@WaterdropGirl]

Why does everyone always forget about the pairing of renewables and batteries... Oi vey

[@Heizzer47]

Silly goyim

[@lucasrodrigueslrf]

The TED Talks are very good because they showcase the benefits of Artificial Intelligence.

[@popcornenglishonline9548]

I couldn't agree more with you my friend, indeed AI can be a handful tool

[@karlwheatley1244]

@@popcornenglishonline9548 Like nuclear weapons, fossil fuels, and agricultural chemicals, AI may have impressive short-term benefits, but more importantly, it may destroy life on Earth in the long run.

[@pachero]

This person speaks as AI would speak. The message doesn’t come across, it’s canned.

[@BrianMcInnis87]

Gore? Well I should say he's certainly done *something* to help, yes.

[@cdeford2]

The crisis is the pretence that there is a crisis.

[@JeDxDeVu]

Nah bra the governments got this. They never fail. Perfect track record. Why is she talking to everyone like they’re in first grade.

[@pondholloworchards]

AI will be the crisis 🎉

[@user-yv4gg7jb2f]

no 😀

[@rgsulpoa]

Nah ... I just hope one day AI can solve human ignorance and hypocrisy, the only thing that will save the planet .... Who knows ...

[@woodstockscorner]

Wouldn't it be funny if AI came back and said there is no climate crisis! And it's the government making it all up! 🤣😂🤣

[@5minutecalms]

Seeing the climate change in my own city and country over the decades I can understand and experience this.

[@karlwheatley1244]

"Wouldn't it be funny if AI came back and said there is no climate crisis! " I assume you're a fossil fuel bot, but no one who knows the science will fall for that. Man-made global warming and climate disruption is a scientific fact backed by thousands of research studies and agreed on by every nation on Earth. Thousands of excellent research studies prove that we caused ~98% of global warming since 1900, that we are warming the planet ~18 times faster than it usually warms when coming out of an ice age, that this rapid warming and climate disruption is already hurting people, societies, species, and ecosystems in hundreds of ways, and that continuing to emit CO2 and warm the planet would inevitably cause worsening ecological and societal breakdown. Hint: Humans have already raised global CO2 levels by ~50%, CO2 levels are now the highest they have been in ~14 million years, and the main “kill mechanism” for most major and minor mass extinctions of life on Earth was... wait for it ... significant increases or decreases in global CO2 levels. Just google the 6th IPCC Report, report of the first working group, available free online. The 6th IPCC Report was the most exhaustively researched and carefully vetted scientific report in human history. Just the report of the first working group is over 2,000 pages long and backed by over 6,000 research studies, but you will find in the summary that the best estimate scientists have is that humans caused ~1.07 C of the total 1.09 C net global warming since the 1850-1900 period. And meanwhile, here in Cleveland where it should be 30 degrees F now, it is instead 60 degrees F now. 2023 was the hottest year on average in the last ~125,000 years for the Earth. Ski seasons globally have shrunk 4-5 weeks. Growing zones maps have had to be revised multiple times due to man-made global warming.

[@RickLaBanca]

Better money grab if you use TWO hollow terms. Ai is the blockchain of last spring. And climates…. change.

[@glenzee9083]

There us no climate crisis. Problem solved . Address polution and efficiency and adapt to the ever changing climate. Simple. Give us our wasted money back.

[@mawkernewek]

This talk is total waffle without any real technical content.

[@allisongoulart2358]

its absolutely not

[@ezrablake1234]

she has that crazy eyes

[@kentjones6813]

The world needs more C02 to feed the plants and trees. More C02 and the deserts will shrink

[@karlwheatley1244]

"The world needs more C02 to feed the plants and trees." That's a myth based on siloed thinking. The Earth was a lush paradise and the most biodiverse it has ever been with lower CO2 levels for millions of years. In fact, CO2 levels are now the highest they have been in 14 million years, and the species and ecosystems NOW on Earth simply aren't adapted to the higher CO2 levels we have created and the climate and ecosystem disruptions they have caused. More CO2 causes hundreds of harmful ripple effects for the web of life, including hotter-than-usual conditions everywhere, drier conditions in many places, and millions of species fleeing the habitat they used to live in--looking for someplace cooler. There was a brief "global greening" trend, mostly in the 1980s and 1990s, and partly due to massive planting efforts in Africa, China, and India, but over the last 20 years, spontaneous global greening has slowed and it is increasingly being replaced by a global browning trend due to the hotter and drier/disrupted conditions we have created. If you want to care for the web of life, you want to keep CO2 levels and global temps stable. Humans have already raised global CO2 levels by ~50%, CO2 levels are now the highest they have been in ~14 million years, and the main “kill mechanism” for most major and minor mass extinctions of life on Earth was... wait for it ... significant changes in global CO2 levels. "More C02 and the deserts will shrink for millions of years" Actually, much more desertification around the fat middle of the Earth is what is forecast, along with rising crop failures and livestock deaths. A 3 degrees C of warming, the vast majority of the fat middle of the Earth will become noticeably drier and less able to grow food. Sorry, but increasing CO2 levels much more is one of the most destructive things humans could possibly do, but most people don't know the big picture, and there are paid shills like Patrick Moore, William Happer, Willie Soon, and Tony Heller misleading people about the science, so your earlier confusion is understandable.

[@Horstveratu]

🥳🤡💩

[@Hel1mutt]

best first comment ive seen this year

[@jermainelong1843]

Hopefully even AI can see through climate alarmist tripe.

[@karlwheatley1244]

"Hopefully even AI can see through climate alarmist tripe." Man-made global warming and climate disruption is a scientific fact backed by thousands of research studies and agreed on by every nation on Earth. Thousands of excellent research studies prove that we caused ~98% of global warming since 1900, that we are warming the planet ~18 times faster than it usually warms when coming out of an ice age, that this rapid warming and climate disruption is already hurting people, societies, species, and ecosystems in hundreds of ways, and that continuing to emit CO2 and warm the planet would inevitably cause worsening ecological and societal breakdown. Hint: Humans have already raised global CO2 levels by ~50%, CO2 levels are now the highest they have been in ~14 million years, and the main “kill mechanism” for most major and minor mass extinctions of life on Earth was... wait for it ... significant increases or decreases in global CO2 levels. Just google the 6th IPCC Report, report of the first working group, available free online. The 6th IPCC Report was the most exhaustively researched and carefully vetted scientific report in human history. Just the report of the first working group is over 2,000 pages long and backed by over 6,000 research studies, but you will find in the summary that the best estimate scientists have is that humans caused ~1.07 C of the total 1.09 C net global warming since the 1850-1900 period. In the real world, there are 14 different climate models, some dating back more than 30 or 40 years, that have quite accurately predicted how much warming our emissions would cause. Heck, even Exxon's own scientists had a model in 1982 that quite accurately predicts how much warming our emissions would cause right up to now. It is a matter of public record that they wrote an internal memo to their bosses warning how burning fossils fuels would disrupt the climate and jeopardize our future. However, instead of paying attention the scientific facts and warning the public, Exxon closed down their working group and spent hundreds of millions of dollars spreading climate denier propaganda. ' Google "Geophysical Research Letters, Hausfather, 2020, Evaluating the Performance of Past Climate Model Projections,” and read about it for yourself.

[@mikestaub]

Bitcoin mining will be a critical component of the deployment of renewables. Also, I don't take anyone seriously when they consider fusion a viable solution to the climate crisis.

[@science212]

There is no any climate crisis.

[@andreafiorini6418]

No

[@Whoknowswhere12]

There is no climate crisis

[@paultaylor765]

There is no planet B to live on yet. If we are boiling to death, then it's too late😢

[@kentjones6813]

We need GLOBAL TAX credits to support more CARBON DIOXIDE in the atmosphere. Plants are starving and THRIVE with more carbon in the air. Let the forest grow and deserts shrink.