Examining the potential benefits and risks of using artificial intelligence to advance global sustainability. Drones with night vision are tracking elephant and rhino poachers in African wildlife parks and sanctuaries; smart submersibles are saving coral from carnivorous starfish on Australia's Great Barrier Reef; recycled cell phones alert Brazilian forest rangers to the sound of illegal logging. The tools of artificial intelligence are being increasingly deployed in the battle for global sustainability. And yet, warns Peter Dauvergne, we should be cautious in declaring AI the planet's savior. In AI in the Wild, Dauvergne avoids the AI industry-powered hype and offers a critical view, exploring both the potential benefits and risks of using artificial intelligence to advance global sustainability.

A radical and challenging book which argues that artificial intelligence needs a completely different set of foundations, based on ecological intelligence rather than human intelligence, if it is to deliver on the promise of a better world. This can usher in the greatest transformation in human history, an age of re-integration. Our very existence is dependent upon our context within the Earth System, and so, surely, artificial intelligence must also be grounded within this context, embracing emergence, interconnectedness and real-time feedback. We discover many positive outcomes across the societal, economic and environmental arenas and discuss how this transformation can be delivered. Key Features: Identifies a key weakness in current AI thinking, that threatens any hope of a better world. Highlights the importance of realizing that systems theory is an essential foundation for any technology that hopes to positively transform our world. Emphasizes the need for a radical new approach to AI, based on ecological systems. Explains why ecosystem intelligence, not human intelligence, offers the best framework for AI. Examines how this new approach will impact on the three arenas of society, environment and economics, ushering in a new age of re-integration.

"This volume reports 16 AI projects on engineering sustainability using AI, Machine Learning, Signal Processing, Databases and other Technologies (Hybrid AI). Sixty scientists contribute to the volume on ‘Boots on the Ground’ topics including fire fighting, forestry sustainability, flood prediction, algae bloom prediction, water pollution prediction, sewage treatment, recycling and resource consumption. There are also ‘Data, Data Everywhere’ topics including biodiversity cataloguing, plant physiology and climate modeling, forest ecosystem modelling, satellite data aggregation and viewing and weather forecasting. The contributions of each team of scientists, AI researchers and engineers has been assembled with a set of helpful questions and answers called “Classroom Connection” at the end of each chapter. The existence of this book serves to document the AI projects in existence and some of the people who have been actively working to create sustainability using AI. Inside you’ll find many examples of hybrid AI - systems so complex, they need every AI trick in the book to solve them, and then some. The book is presented at the 2019 U.N. Climate Summit in Madrid Spain."--Publisher's description.

With the increasing public interest in artificial intelligence (AI), there is also increasing interest in learning about the benefits that AI can deliver to society. This book focuses on research advances in AI that benefit the conservation of wildlife, forests, coral reefs, rivers, and other natural resources. It presents how the joint efforts of researchers in computer science, ecology, economics, and psychology help address the goals of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Written at a level accessible to conservation professionals and AI researchers, the book offers both an overview of the field and an in-depth view of how AI is being used to understand patterns in wildlife poaching and enhance patrol efforts in response, covering research advances, field tests and real-world deployments. The book also features efforts in other major conservation directions, including protecting natural resources, ecosystem monitoring, and bio-invasion management through the use of game theory, machine learning, and optimization.

The book discusses comprehensive and cutting-edge research and development endeavors, as well as innovative solutions, in implementing AI and related technologies to meet and undertake current and future challenges towards ensuring environmental sustainability. It explores the future research directions in the era of Industry 4.0. In the beginning, an overview of the utilization of Al for environmental sustainability is provided. The remaining chapters of the book cover the technological and application aspects of Al for environmental sustainability with illustrative examples. Finally, challenges with respect to deploying Al to solving environmental problems and the future trends are covered.

This book discusses the adverse effects of climatic changes on our planet. It examines AI-based tools and technologies and how they can assist in identifying energy emission reductions, CO2 removal, and support the development of greener transportation networks, monitoring deforestation, and forecasting extreme weather events. AI for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability identifies and discusses in detail the importance of environmental sustainability based on accomplishment of the UN's 17 Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs). It presents the various AI-based possibilities for accelerating international efforts to safeguard the environment and conserve natural resources. The authors offer a comprehensive analysis of the emerging field of climate change in relation to Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning. The book discusses AI developments, applications, and best practices that will help us transition to a low-carbon future on both a regional and global scale. It provides case studies with analytical results pertinent to climate change and weather prediction and includes chapters with a research-oriented approach, which can encourage new developments in the field of sustainable climate and green environment. The book can be used as a primary textbook for graduate and postgraduate students in technology and science, as well as a reference for researchers, academics, and IT professionals working on climate change and sustainability initiatives.

Exploring Ethical Dimensions of Environmental Sustainability and Use of AI is a comprehensive and insightful book that delves into the ethical implications and challenges that emerge at the intersection of environmental sustainability and the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI). With a focus on key ethical dimensions such as transparency, equity, privacy, autonomy, unintended consequences, and trade-offs, this book aims to provide a thorough understanding of the responsible deployment and development of AI in the realm of environmental sustainability. By addressing the ethical aspects and challenges involved, this book contributes to the development of ethical guidelines and frameworks that align AI technologies with the vision of a sustainable and equitable future. Researchers will find immense value in this book as it offers a holistic exploration of the ethical implications, filling a critical gap in the existing literature. Policymakers can gain valuable insights to inform the creation of ethical guidelines and regulations governing AI use in sustainable initiatives. Practitioners, including professionals working in environmental organizations or technology companies, will acquire practical knowledge to guide their decision-making and implementation of AI-driven solutions.