5 Ways Artificial Intelligence Can Help Save The Planet

From smarter electric grids to automated monitoring of at-risk environments, there are many areas where technology could have exponential effects on sustainability. If the world's natural resources are increasingly stressed and depleted, the silver lining may be that we're becoming better equipped at tracking that destruction and potentially doing something about it. Cheap, widespread sensor networks, the internet of things, magnitude-improvements in computing power, open source algorithms–these all allow us to manage oceans and forests more effectively, if we want the opportunity. Artificial intelligence systems that can sense, think, learn, and act on their own could allow a major upgrade in conservation efforts, in dealing with climate change, and living in a more energy-efficient manner. A report released during the recent Davos World Economic Forum meeting laid more than 80 potential environmental applications for AI, ranging from the mundane to the futuristic.