Could ChatGPT help us to protect biodiversity? An international panel of experts has come up with 21 ideas where AI could revolutionize conservation.
In recent years, platforms such as ChatGPT or Midjourney have captured our imagination raising public interest in artificial intelligence. An international panel of 18 conservation scientists and 9 AI and computer science specialists came together to explore how AI could make waves in biodiversity protection. The result is an article with 21 ideas sorted according to their potential to:
🧠Expand the scope of human imagination or creativity.
📈 Generate advanced simulations and data representation.
📑 Help human experts to translate observations into new knowledge.
If we specifically talk about biodiversity conservation, AI has the potential to enhance our understanding of species distributions, to help pinpointing priority areas for conservation or even evaluating the effectiveness of policy actions or provide tools to track compliance with environmental legislation.
As the experts note in the article, AI will be an invaluable tool in supporting conservation efforts, but it is not a cure-all. While the potential benefits are vast and the urgency of addressing biodiversity loss is critical, several risks associated with this technology must be carefully considered. These include AI colonialism, its high energy consumption, the erosion of essential conservation skills, AI hallucinations, the replication of existing biases, and the potential for misuse by malicious actors. If not managed properly, these challenges could undermine the very efforts AI aims to support in preserving biodiversity.
Do you already use AI in your biodiversity conservation work? What challenges are you facing?
Read the full article and see the results.
