How artificial intelligence could save the planet

For years, Lucas Joppa has been fascinated with the world that exists at the intersection of technology and the environment. Now, in a recent article in the journal Science, he calls on governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia, and the private technology sector to join him in finding new ways that artificial intelligence (AI) can help collect new information and data into managing and protecting Earth's resources with higher efficiency. "I'm talking about trying to get global society's level of information and insight into our Earth's natural resources to the same level that we've managed to achieve with our insights into human activities and behavior," says Joppa, who was named Microsoft's first chief environment scientist last year. In his article, Joppa writes that most people he meets are surprised that Microsoft has a position such as his -- but that he believes "every major tech firm will be working on applying AI to sustainability" in a few years. On the two-year anniversary of the Paris climate agreement on Dec. 11, Microsoft unveiled a deeper commitment to its "AI for Earth" program, pledging five years and $50 million to distribute AI technology to those who are working to protect the planet and its natural resources -- especially those dedicated to agriculture, water management, biodiversity, and climate change.