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Can data and AI save lives and make the world safer?
The global climate crisis is acute. In the last few months alone, Hawaii, Morocco and Libya have experienced climate-linked catastrophes that have wiped out communities and killed tens of thousands of people.
At the same time, emerging tech – notably artificial intelligence and data ecosystems – are becoming increasingly sophisticated and influential. There’s been much focus on the perils and threats posed by these scientific developments, but how can they be proactively harnessed to mitigate climate challenges and create a more resilient world?
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, GZERO Media held a Global Stage livestream event unpacking these complex challenges and opportunities, in collaboration with the United Nations, the Complex Risk Analytics Fund, and the Early Warnings for All initiative.
This urgent conversation was be moderated by Nick Thompson, CEO, The Atlantic; and featured Melinda Bohannon, Director General of Humanitarian and Development at the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office; Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media; Vilas Dhar, President and Trustee, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation; Dr. Comfort Ero, President and CEO of International Crisis Group; Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction; Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General; Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Envoy on Technology; Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft; Axel van Trostenburg, World Bank Managing Director; and Anne Witkowsky, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations at the US Department of State.
Emerging tech is presenting huge opportunities to identify climate hotspots and scale damage and destruction. Indeed, Smith says that satellites are able to not only capture visual images, but also gather “data streams” on fossil fuel emissions. In addition, AI is also being harnessed to identify communities affected by climate calamities and see which “people have been rendered homeless.” Still, tech companies can’t do it alone. In order to identify what their exact needs are, Smith adds, partnerships with NGOs and other stakeholders are key.
Amandeep Singh Gill had much to say about how these processes are applied in real time, particularly when addressing world hunger. “Across 90 countries, 700-800 million people are at risk of food insecurity,” he notes, adding that using data across institutions has allowed the multilateral organization “to get assessments about where food insecurity is going to spike next, and that allows us to respond in a better way.”
Still, having access to copious amounts of data is one thing, but figuring out how to use it to effectuate change is quite another. “There's a real gap between the information that's out there and the ability to act upon the information that's out there,” Dr Ero says, adding that “lack of policy and action” and failure to act quickly when crises are identified are hindering these global efforts. Dr Ero points to the situation in Somalia, which is still grappling with an insurgency by the Al-Shabaab terror group while also facing floods and trying to rebuild its society. “All the data points are showing the stresses that Somalia has to deal with, but why aren't we able to respond to that?” she asks, highlighting poor governance and lack of political will as impediments to progress.
When asked about how these issues might be affected by the fact that heads of state from four out of five permanent members of the UN Security Council did not show up at the UN General Assembly this week, Amina Mohammed said there is “huge momentum” from governments and stakeholders. “The 2030 agenda is urgent, and we really do just feel that there is a movement to make that happen. There's a sense of determination … too many people are at stake.”
And there’s one elephant in the room when discussing climate change and tech advancements: China. One big issue, Bremmer notes, “is that China is really distracted by very significant domestic economic challenges and that has put real constraints, material constraints, on their foreign policy strategy over the long term,” he says.
Racial makeup of undergraduate students in the U.S. (2010-2021)
The Graphic Truth: Hispanic college enrollment has surged
September 15 marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, and as the United States enters a new era in college admissions following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down race-based affirmative action protections this summer, many worry that the new rules could hurt the chances of aspiring students from traditionally marginalized communities.
New data from the Department of Education indicates the number of Hispanic students grew nearly 30% between 2010 and 2021, and made up over a fifth of the enrolled student body in 2021. Hispanic people as a whole were one of the fastest growing demographic groups in the U.S. at the time, accounting for more than half of the total population increase between 2010 and 2020. Here’s a look at racial makeup of undergraduate students in the U.S. over the last several years.
AI governance: Cultivating responsibility
Mustafa Suleyman, a prominent voice in the AI landscape and CEO & co-founder of Inflection AI, contends that effective regulation transcends legal frameworks—it encompasses a culture of self-regulation and informed regulatory comprehension. Today's AI leaders exhibit a unique blend of optimism and caution, recognizing both the transformative potential and potential pitfalls of AI technologies. Suleyman underscores the paradigm shift compared to the era of social media dominance.
This time, AI leaders have been proactive in raising concerns and questions about the technology's impact. Balancing innovation's pace with prudent safeguards is the goal, acknowledging that through collective efforts, the benefits of AI can far outweigh its drawbacks. Suleyman highlights that advanced AI models are increasingly controllable and capable of producing desired, safe outputs. He encourages external oversight and welcomes regulation as a proactive and thoughtful measure. The message is clear: the path to harnessing AI's power lies in fostering a culture of responsible development and collaborative regulatory action.
Watch the full conversation: Governing AI Before It’s Too Late
Watch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week at gzeromedia.com/gzeroworld or on US public television. Check local listings.
- Podcast: Artificial intelligence new rules: Ian Bremmer and Mustafa Suleyman explain the AI power paradox ›
- How should artificial intelligence be governed? ›
- Making rules for AI … before it’s too late ›
- The AI power paradox: Rules for AI's power ›
- Is life better than ever for the human race? - GZERO Media ›
Hard Numbers: Chinese data hack, July 4 massacre, US Navy wants Iran tips, Uzbek unrest, Mali sanctions lifted
1 billion: An anonymous hacker claims to have stolen the police records of about one billion Chinese citizens, almost three-quarters of the population. If true, it could be one of the biggest data hacks of all time — and very embarrassing for Beijing.
6: Six people were shot dead on Sunday after a gunman opened fire on an Independence Day parade in a suburb of the US city of Chicago. It's the first high-profile mass shooting in America since President Joe Biden signed the latest federal gun-safety laws and the Supreme Court ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to carry firearms.
100,000: The US Navy is offering up to $100,000 in rewards for information to help intercept weapons, drugs, and other illicit shipments in the Persian Gulf. The Americans worry about Iran supplying weapons to the Houthi rebels in Yemen despite an arms embargo and the ongoing truce in the country's civil war.
18: At least 18 people have been killed in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous province in the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, since the government last week revealed plans to limit secession rights in the constitution. If President Shavkat Mirziyoyev needs outside help to end the crisis, he may have to patch things up with regional cop Russia after being lukewarm on the war in Ukraine.
300 million: West African leaders agreed on Sunday to lift economic sanctions against Mali after its junta promised to return to civilian rule by 2024. The sanctions forced post-coup Mali to default on $300 million of sovereign debt so far this year.
AI understands you. It won't replace you.
Artificial intelligence has already surpassed that of humans in many fields. So, how can we leverage that power to humans' advantage? AI scientist Kai-fu Lee says social media companies should use AI so we can learn more about the algorithms that determine what shows up in our newsfeeds — and, more importantly, why, so it'll help us in our daily lives instead of just keeping our eyeballs there. Watch his interview with Ian Bremmer on the latest episode of GZERO World.
Watch this episode of GZERO World with Ian Bremmer:Is a robot coming for your job? Kai-fu Lee explains AI
Marietje Schaake describes the trade-off between security and freedom under COVID-19
In an interview with Ian Bremmer for GZERO World, Marietje Schaake, former member of EU Parliament and international policy director of the Cyber Policy Center at Stanford University, discusses the tradeoff between security and freedom when it comes to data surveillance. In a wide-ranging conversation about data and big tech, taped just days before cities entered lockdown in the United States, Schaake addresses early steps taken in Singapore and China to curb the spread of COVID-19 using tracking tools. The complete discussion is part of the latest episode of GZERO World which begins airing Friday, May 8, on national public television. Check local listings.
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