AI for good: a rainforest city example

Even though the fear of 'how AI is going to change our lives' grows, artificial intelligence is an amazing tool for good purposes.

When used as such, AI has the amazing capacity to "hallucinate" and accelerate human ideas into rich, immersive realities. This distinctive ability enables people and organizations to imagine and investigate possibilities that would otherwise be constrained by a lack of time, money, or space.

How?

We can accelerate innovation, open up new spheres of creativity, and further human progress by utilizing AI. The ability of AI to generate and simulate alternative realities makes it an invaluable tool for addressing global challenges and promoting positive change, from designing sustainable cities to simulating difficult scientific experiments. We can move toward a better and more prosperous future by using AI for such transformative purposes.

Not only we can kickstart an idea with generative language models, but we can further expand on that by asking the same models to refine a topic or propose the issues we find on those ideas (e.g. impossible solutions, ...) by posing them as a challenge to other AIs.

A simple example

For fun, I asked ChatGPT 3.5 to develop further on a topic I found in the Hugging Face community: a high tech utopian city in the Rainforest. In particular, I asked to develop ideas related to the sustainability and the efficiency of such project, so to have more clarity in my design.

Here's the unmodified output from the AI, after a few tests:

1. Green Infrastructure: Incorporate green spaces, parks, and tree canopies to preserve the natural environment. This helps maintain the rainforest ecosystem, mitigates climate change, and provides recreational areas for residents.
2. Energy Generation: Utilize solar energy as the primary source of power. Install solar panels on rooftops, parking lots, and other suitable areas to generate clean, renewable electricity. Additionally, consider other renewable energy sources like hydroelectric or biomass, if applicable to the specific rainforest location.
3. Water Management: Implement an efficient water management system. This includes collecting rainwater for reuse, utilizing greywater systems to recycle and treat water from sinks and showers, and employing low-flow fixtures to reduce water consumption.
4. Waste Management: Develop comprehensive waste management strategies to minimize landfill waste. Promote recycling programs, establish composting facilities, and encourage residents to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Implement smart waste management systems that optimize waste collection routes and minimize transportation-related emissions.
5. Sustainable Transport: Encourage the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and public transportation powered by renewable energy sources. Develop a well-connected network of walkways and bike lanes to promote active transportation. Implement smart traffic management systems to reduce congestion and optimize transportation efficiency.
6. Sustainable Building Design: Enforce strict environmental regulations for construction projects. Promote the use of sustainable materials, such as recycled or locally sourced materials, and prioritize energy-efficient building designs. Incorporate green building practices such as passive cooling, natural lighting, and green roofs.

1. Biodiversity Preservation: Protect and preserve the rich biodiversity of the rainforest. Designate protected areas and establish wildlife corridors to maintain ecological connectivity. Promote sustainable land use practices and raise awareness about the importance of conservation among residents.
2. Technology Integration: Leverage technology for efficient city management. Utilize smart grids to optimize energy distribution and reduce wastage. Implement smart sensors for monitoring and controlling water usage, air quality, and waste management systems. Use data analytics to make informed decisions and continuously improve sustainability efforts.
3. Community Engagement: Foster a culture of sustainability among residents and businesses. Educate the community about the importance of sustainable practices and provide incentives for environmentally friendly behavior. Encourage community participation in sustainability initiatives and establish platforms for sharing ideas and feedback.
4. Collaboration and Partnerships: Foster collaboration with local communities, indigenous groups, environmental organizations, and relevant stakeholders. Involve them in the planning, development, and monitoring of sustainability initiatives to ensure the city's actions align with local needs and values.

While we can agree on some points more than others, it is already a fantastic starting point. Now, the more savvy reader can already point out a few issue in the reasoning from ChatGPT. I took one as an example:

How can we have locally sourced materials without affecting the biodiversity preservation?

What I did is asking the same AI, rephrasing the issue as a question. Below the answer; for the sake of space, I have just kept the most relevant parts in the conversation.

[extract from ChatGPT]

...

Material Selection: Identify materials that are abundant locally and have minimal impact on the environment. Prioritize materials that are renewable, recyclable, or made from recycled content. Consider natural, biodegradable materials or those with low embodied energy.

...

Biodiversity Impact Assessment: Conduct thorough biodiversity impact assessments to understand the potential effects of material sourcing on local ecosystems. Identify sensitive areas and species, and develop mitigation plans to minimize or offset any negative impacts. Consider alternative sourcing options if the local materials pose significant threats to biodiversity.

Reforestation and Habitat Restoration: Implement initiatives for reforestation and habitat restoration to offset any ecological disturbance caused by material sourcing. Support local conservation organizations or establish programs that promote the restoration of degraded lands or the planting of native species.

...

I could have gone more in depth for some of the topics, but it is not the purpose of this article (maybe a next one?).

Conclusion

In the end, I believe that yes, AI will have a tremendous impact on our lives. But as for each tool, it depends on how we use it. Definitely, for good purposes, there is an immense potential.