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Artificial Intelligence: The Destructive Machine That Will Save Our Planet

Thanh, Regents International School Pattaya, Thailand

In a world fueled by technology, a question arises: Will AI make us, or break us?

From the concern of AI stealing jobs to the looming fear that computers will cause the apocalyptic downfall of humankind, many consider artificial intelligence to be an overshadowing threat. However, research has shown that AI has a high potential of mitigating various dire and global issues.

As the temperature of our planet rapidly climbs higher, the risk of catastrophic natural and manmade disasters increases as well. Destructive predicaments such as wildfires and floods have taken the lives of more 74,000 innocent people in 2023 and have costed an estimated 250 billion US dollars worldwide.

Luckily, companies have taken the initiative to prevent these deadly disasters using modern means.

An example lies within Pano AI, which utilizes mountaintop cameras to collect data on early signs of forest fires in order to provide firefighters and homeowners with more time to react.

A project by the name of SWAMP also uses AI to contribute to water management in drought stricken areas and has been proven to reduce consumption by up to 38%.

AI powered tools like Google FloodHub can be accessed by the public and utilized to monitor flood conditions and notify citizens in areas prone to flooding.

This emphasizes the significance of AI in preventing and diminishing the impact of cataclysmic disasters.

The heart-wrenching reality of displacement due to job losses caused by AI is validated, as the World Economic Forum predicts that artificial intelligence will replace about 85 million jobs by 2025. However, as AI is integrated into a wide array of different fields, it is estimated to create 97 million new job opportunities, increasing employment rates.

It is crucial to note that though AI is often imagined as a sentient being, it has a purpose controlled and commanded by humans, meaning that it has little to no chance of ruling the world.

Despite the slim opportunity for negative outcomes manifested by AI to emerge, there is no doubt that millions of lives can be saved or improved by AI.

Although it is not the complete cure to world problems, artificial intelligence provides a spark of hope in the midst of dire times. The responsibility is ours. AI can be used to break us, but if we choose to use it in positive ways, it will make us. This decade’s breakthroughs will light a path to be followed for centuries to come.