AI in Sustainability Transformations, SRI Congress - Bruce Goldstein & Alex Tingris - 11th June

The discussion on AI for Sustainability Transformations brought together experts to explore AI's potential and challenges in sustainability practices. Facilitated by Bruce Goldstein from the University of Colorado and Transformations Community colleagues, the session focused on the AI co-design project, highlighting AI's role in sustainability through transdisciplinary and community-based approaches.

Recording:

Slides:

Key Takeaways:

  1. Community-Driven AI Projects: The AI Co-Design Project promotes knowledge co-production and transdisciplinary collaboration to address sustainability challenges while considering ethical issues and biases.

  2. AI in Research and Planning: AI tools like Elicit enhance research efficiency and aid in disaster warning and resilience planning by processing large datasets and providing timely insights.

  3. Inclusivity and Ethics: AI systems often reflect biases from their training data. There's a need for inclusive AI tools that integrate diverse knowledge systems, including indigenous wisdom, to ensure equitable outcomes.

  4. Enhancing Community Engagement: The AI platform aims to integrate various knowledge sources to support sustainability practitioners and facilitate effective communication and collaboration within professional networks.

  5. Challenges and Risks: Concerns about data privacy, ethical AI use, and the potential for AI to replace entry-level jobs highlight the need for transparency, trust, and careful consideration of AI's broader impact.