Artificial intelligence can be seen as a solution or a threat, this is a debate that will be with us for decades to come. However, what does emerge as the second option is climate change. What if we were to solve one with the other? That is precisely what one of our biggest commercial rivals is going to do and for which they are committing millions of dollars.
Our trade´s rival takes it seriously: watch what it’s doing with AI
The UK government has recently announced an ambitious new project to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to help address climate change. The project comes with £2 million in funding and aims to support companies using AI to reduce carbon emissions and meet net zero targets.
The government sees promise in emerging AI technologies to model complex climate data, optimize renewable energy systems, and enable breakthroughs across agriculture, transportation, manufacturing and more. They believe AI can accelerate progress on decarbonization in a way not possible through conventional methods.
However, the project is not without controversy. Critics argue the funding is a mere fraction of what’s truly needed and question if AI can deliver on its lofty climate promises. Proponents counter that it represents an important first step toward unlocking AI’s potential in the fight against climate change.
The coming years will reveal whether this experimental government investment in AI bears fruit or fails to move the needle on emission reductions. But the willingness to try new approaches highlights the urgency of the climate crisis and the all-hands-on-deck response it now warrants.
An unprecedented amount of money for an unreliable technology
The UK government recently announced plans to invest £2 million into an artificial intelligence (AI) project aimed at solving climate change. This funding is part of a wider £4 million investment into using AI to help reach the country’s net zero emissions goals.
Specifically, the £2 million project will explore how AI and machine learning can be applied to climate modeling and prediction. The goal is to use advanced algorithms and computing power to better understand complex climate and earth systems.
By improving climate projections and forecasts, policymakers hope to make more informed decisions around decarbonization and adaptation strategies. Critics have raised concerns about the hefty price tag for an unproven technology.
However, supporters argue this investment is modest compared to the billions spent on renewable energy infrastructure. They believe AI could yield valuable insights that maximize returns on sustainability investments. The project reflects a growing trend of governments looking to AI and data-driven solutions.
Using AI to climate change, worrying: why this project is not convincing
The most common question is around the feasibility and potential impact of such a small, $2 million project. While AI has potential to help address climate change, critics argue this level of funding is a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of changes needed.
Some worry that AI could actually worsen climate change unintentionally or displace human jobs in carbon-intensive industries, causing economic hardship. If not developed thoughtfully, AI could optimize the wrong things, prioritizing short-term emissions reductions in ways that harm people or the planet.
Perhaps the harshest criticism is that the new project is just another example of our rival’s climate policy being all talk but little action. They have a history of bold announcements and targets not backed by sufficient resources. This AI initiative could be more greenwashing to grab headlines without driving real progress.
The truth is that the link between artificial intelligence and climate change could be taken in two ways. On the one hand, we have all those projects that, like the one you have seen, aim to provide a solution. On the other hand, there is the excessive consumption of resources involved in the use of this technology, both water and electricity or renewable energy.