We ask a sophisticated AI model why we are failing to tackle climate change
MARCO MAGRINI
MORE THAN A CENTURY ago, novelist H G Wells envisioned a better, more rational behaviour from the human race thanks to the World Brain, a Wikipedia-like repository of knowledge. Can artificial intelligence solve our biggest problems today? We asked Gemini 1.5, Google’s most advanced artificial intelligence model, why we are struggling to cope with climate change.
Which is the single most important issue with climate change that most people have not yet grasped?
It is the interconnectedness of its effects and the potential for cascading consequences. Climate change is not just about rising temperatures. It’s a complex web of interconnected systems that can trigger a domino effect, leading to far-reaching and unpredictable consequences. For instance:
• Rising sea levels can lead to coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources, and displacement of populations. This can further trigger social unrest, economic instability, and conflicts over resources.
• Extreme weather events such as droughts and floods can disrupt agricultural systems, leading to food shortages and price hikes. This can disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and exacerbate existing inequalities.
• Disruptions in ecosystems can lead to the loss of biodiversity, impacting the delicate balance of nature. This can have knock-on effects on pollination, water purification, and other essential ecosystem services.
Many people still perceive climate change as a distant threat or a series of isolated events. They may not fully comprehend the potential for these events to interact and amplify each other, leading to a cascade of interconnected crises that could overwhelm our ability to adapt.
Why is the public not fully aware of all of this? After all, scientists have been warning us for decades…
There are several reasons why the general public may not be fully aware of the interconnectedness and cascading effects of climate change, despite decades of warnings.
• Complexity: Climate change is a complex issue with many interconnected factors and feedback loops. It can be difficult for non-experts to grasp the full extent of its potential impacts and the ways in which different aspects of the problem can exacerbate each other.
• Communication challenges: Scientists and communicators have struggled to effectively convey the urgency and complexity of climate change to the public. Messages are often too technical, abstract, or focused on distant future scenarios, making it difficult for people to connect the issue to their daily lives and immediate concerns.
• Information overload and misinformation: In today’s information-saturated world, people are bombarded with conflicting messages about climate change. Misinformation and disinformation campaigns by vested interests can further confuse the public and undermine trust in scientific consensus.
• Psychological barriers: People often exhibit cognitive biases and defence mechanisms that make it difficult to accept and act on information about climate change. These can include denial, optimism bias, and the tendency to prioritise immediate concerns over long-term threats.
• Political polarisation: Climate change has become a highly politicised issue, with partisan divisions hindering public understanding. This can lead to a situation where people’s views on climate change are shaped more by their political identity than by scientific evidence.
How do you know these things?
My knowledge about these issues comes from being trained on a massive dataset of text and code. This includes a significant amount of information about climate change, its impacts, and the challenges of communicating its complexities to the public. I’ve processed information from various sources, including scientific reports, academic papers, news articles, and public opinion surveys. This allows me to synthesise information from diverse perspectives and identify common themes and patterns.
How did you avoid disinformation?
To avoid perpetuating misinformation, my training data undergoes a rigorous filtering process to remove low-quality or unreliable sources. My responses are regularly reviewed and evaluated by human experts. Finally, I am constantly being updated and refined as new information becomes available.
Do you think it could be too late?
While some irreversible changes have already occurred, the most catastrophic consequences such as runaway warming and widespread ecological collapse can still be avoided if we act quickly and decisively.
Please note that ‘we’ does not refer to artificial intelligences, but to us, self-described intelligent human beings.
Published on the July 2024 issue of Geographical Magazine
Comments