Introduction to
Artificial Intelligence
Lecture # 06
Instructor: Abubakar Wakili
AI and Climate Change
◼ How AI Can Help with Climate Change
◼ Predicting Climate Trends: AI can analyze massive amounts of
environmental data to find patterns, helping scientists predict changes
in the climate.
• Mitigating Climate Impact: AI systems can help reduce harmful
effects by optimizing resource use and finding ways to cut down
emissions.
• Adapting to Climate Changes: AI can help us understand how to
adapt to new climate conditions, supporting decision-making in
agriculture, urban planning, and disaster preparedness.
AI and Climate Change
◼ Why AI is Important for Climate Science
• Understanding Complex Systems: Climate systems
are incredibly complex, with many interacting parts. AI
helps scientists analyze these complexities to make
more accurate predictions.
• Faster Analysis: AI can process and analyze data
much faster than humans, making it possible to act on
climate insights more quickly.
AI and Climate Change
◼ AI in Weather Forecasting:
◼ Predicting Weather Patterns: AI models can analyze historical and
real-time data to forecast weather changes, helping us prepare for
extreme weather events.
◼ Climate Shifts: AI can detect long-term shifts, such as rising
temperatures or rainfall changes, aiding in climate adaptation
planning.
◼
AI and Climate Change
◼ AI in Weather Forecasting:
◼ Examples
◼ Hurricane Prediction: Machine learning models can analyze
ocean temperatures, wind patterns, and other factors to predict
hurricanes and help communities prepare.
◼ Drought Forecasting: AI can monitor soil moisture levels,
precipitation patterns, and other indicators to predict droughts and
support water management strategies.
AI and Climate Change
◼ Optimizing Energy Usage with AI:
◼ Example: AI in Smart Grids
◼ Efficient Energy Distribution: AI-powered smart grids adjust
electricity distribution based on real-time demand, reducing waste.
◼ Renewable Energy Integration: AI helps integrate solar and wind
energy into the grid, making sure we use renewable sources
efficiently.
AI and Climate Change
◼ Reducing Carbon Emissions with AI
◼ How AI Supports Low-Emission Technology
◼ Developing Sustainable Processes: AI can improve manufacturing
processes to use fewer resources and produce less waste.
◼ Supporting Cleaner Energy: AI helps researchers develop
alternative energy sources like solar, wind, and biofuels.
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◼ Examples of AI in Action
◼ Low-Emission Vehicles: AI assists in designing electric vehicles
and optimizing fuel efficiency in hybrid models.
◼ Cleaner Energy Sources: AI helps scientists explore renewable
energy options, making them more effective and easier to adopt.
AI and Climate Change
◼ Ethical Considerations in AI for Climate Action
◼ Potential Risks of Using AI in Climate Decisions
◼ Over-Reliance on AI: There’s a risk of depending too much on AI
without considering other factors, leading to incomplete or biased
decisions.
◼ Unintended Environmental Impact: AI uses a lot of computational
power, which requires energy. If not managed properly, this could add
to emissions rather than reduce them.
AI Governance
◼ What is AI Governance?
◼ Definition: AI governance means setting rules and guidelines to
control how AI systems are built and used.
◼ Goal: To ensure AI is safe, fair, and beneficial to society.
◼ Why AI Governance is Important
◼ Responsible Development: Helps avoid unintended harms by
guiding responsible AI creation and usage.
◼ Protects Society: Ensures AI benefits everyone without causing
social or ethical problems.
AI Governance
◼ Why AI Needs Regulation
◼ Real Examples
◼ Facial Recognition Missteps: Cases where facial recognition was
used inappropriately, leading to privacy issues and mistaken
identities.
◼ Unregulated Social Media Algorithms: Algorithms spreading
harmful misinformation, affecting public health and safety.
AI Governance
◼ International Organizations in AI Regulation
◼ Who Sets AI Standards?
◼ European Union (EU): Sets strict AI regulations and policies to
protect citizens and uphold ethical standards.
◼ United Nations (UN): Promotes global discussions on AI’s
societal impact and encourages ethical AI use worldwide.
◼ World Economic Forum (WEF): Brings together leaders from
around the world to discuss AI policies and promote safe, ethical AI
practices.
◼ Their Role
◼ These organizations work to create guidelines that countries can
adopt to ensure safe and fair AI use.
AI Governance
◼ Risks of Unregulated AI
◼ What Could Go Wrong?
◼ Privacy Risks: Unchecked AI could collect and misuse sensitive
personal data.
◼ Security Threats: Without rules, AI could be used maliciously,
threatening people’s security.
◼ Social Impacts: AI could make biased decisions affecting jobs,
healthcare, or legal outcomes, leading to inequality and mistrust.
◼ Real-World Example
◼ Facial Recognition Issues: Used in policing without proper
guidelines, leading to misidentification, particularly affecting minorities
unfairly.
AI Governance
◼ Overview of Existing AI Regulations
◼ Key AI Regulations
◼ GDPR: The European Union’s law that protects data privacy and
limits data collection by AI systems.
◼ EU AI Act: A comprehensive set of rules that addresses AI
ethics, safety, and human rights, guiding how AI can be used across
industries.
◼ Other Policies: Similar rules are emerging in countries
worldwide to regulate how AI is built and used responsibly.
AI Governance
◼ National vs. Global Approaches to AI Regulation
◼ Different Approaches
◼ European Union (EU): Prioritizes privacy and ethics with strict
regulations to protect citizens.
◼ United States (US): Takes a lighter approach to allow faster AI
innovation but faces challenges in privacy protection.
◼ Asia: Countries like China focus on AI for economic growth but
have fewer restrictions on privacy.
◼ Cultural and Political Influences
◼ Each region’s approach reflects its cultural values (e.g., privacy
vs. innovation) and political priorities.
AI Governance
◼ National vs. Global Approaches to AI Regulation
◼ Comparison of AI Regulations Across Regions
◼ Comparing Regional Regulations
◼ EU’s Strict Approach: Emphasizes protecting individual rights
and data privacy, slowing some AI innovation.
◼ US’s Flexible Approach: Encourages rapid AI development but
has limited data privacy protection.
◼ Impact on Innovation and Ethics
◼ Strict regulations help build trust and protect people but can slow
down development.
◼ More relaxed regulations encourage faster AI advancements but may
overlook ethical risks.
AI Governance
◼ Challenges in Implementing AI Policies
◼ Barriers to Effective Regulation
◼ Cross-Border Data Flow: Personal data often crosses borders,
making it hard to enforce privacy rules.
◼ Compliance Monitoring: Tracking and ensuring companies follow
AI rules is difficult and costly.
◼ Enforcement Limitations: AI policies vary globally, so enforcing
them consistently is challenging.
◼ The Need for Global Cooperation
◼ International collaboration is essential to create unified standards,
allowing AI to be safe and fair globally.
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