Artificial Intelligence has taken over the world and is all the rave in 2024. It has gone beyond smart chatbots to autonomous robots that can have conversations and probably handle house chores in the future. However, some may wonder if artificial intelligence is healthy for the environment. Is it sustainable in the long run? Let’s get into it.

Does AI pose sustainability risks to humans?

Artificial intelligence has made it easier to streamline businesses online. Today it is easy to search for “SEO for lawyers in Houston” and find services you need because of AI. But it is clear that the technology has some sustainability risks and drawbacks that many tend to overlook.

For one, artificial intelligence depletes the earth’s resources because of how much energy it consumes. The operation and training of AI models consume most of the energy and release more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. This defeats the entire purpose of pursuing a green future. 

Besides energy consumption, AI increases the risk of technology dependence. While this isn’t a bad thing, it can become one in the future. For instance, chatbots can reduce human interaction, leading to social isolation and depression. It is apparently already happening as this generation of young adults struggles to maintain meaningful relationships.

The fear of losing jobs to artificial intelligence is still valid. Industries such as construction and manufacturing may be the hardest hit and this will change a lot too quickly. Lets also consider privacy and security. There are concerns that artificial intelligence could lead to potential breach of privacy and cause more problems along the line.

Another drawback being debated is the rise of e-waste with artificial intelligence. However, this problem can be solved by building the tools with sustainable materials to enable recycling. This way, nothing goes to waste.

There’s also the risk of discrimination because artificial intelligence models are built on human data and can be biased as well.

What are the benefits of artificial intelligence so far?

While there are some drawbacks, artificial intelligence offers several benefits as well. One notable perk is energy efficiency. Artificial intelligence can come in handy in improving energy efficiency when used to identify energy wastage and predict usage patterns.

Several manufacturers are already using artificial intelligence to optimize processes such as driving or cooling to reduce energy usage.

Now, artificial intelligence is also quite handy for building smart grids. It can be trained to analyze meters and sensors to manage energy sources better. Brands like Microsoft are already doing this in their data centers.

Artificial intelligence has also been used in sustainable agriculture to predict yields and analyze data. Some farmers even use artificial intelligence robots in crop monitoring to ensure quality across the board.

Recently, artificial intelligence has been used in biodiversity conservation. It analyzes species data to determine declining animal populations so conservators can focus on those species. Finally, AI is used in climate monitoring as it analyzes data on climate change and predicts potential disasters.

What is the future of artificial intelligence?

AI is expected to take the forefront in different industries including health, education, finance, cybersecurity, military, advertising and transportation among others. However, there are still some hiccups preventing this from becoming mainstream.

In health, AI has been able to diagnose minor issues based on specific symptoms recorded by smart watches and other wearable devices. However, it’s still going to be a long way before AI can replace doctors completely.

In finance, AI has had a successful run so far. It is able to predict trading patterns to the detriment of fund managers. So while it is a welcome development, it is clear that its full implementation in the sector will face a lot of challenges. Lots of fund managers already oppose it because it takes their jobs of predicting the best funds to invest in for max profit.

In the military, artificial intelligence has been successful for creating autonomous weapon systems that reduce human casualties. Today, there are drones designed to search and rescue or point out locations of targets. While this has its benefits, there have been debates about its use for violence. If such technologies fall in the wrong hands, they could also start a deadly war which doesn’t benefit the earth.

When it comes to transportation, the future of artificial intelligence is already here. Recently, Tesla founder Elon Musk revealed an autonomous driving taxi. Besides this invention, AI has been used to make existing vehicles more efficient. It can predict issues and inform the driver to prevent accidents in the future.

Some may say the cons outweigh the pros, but only time will tell. One thing that is sure right now is that the future is going to be exciting. What technologies do you expect to see in the future?