Science fiction has long been a window into possible futures, they often anticipate technological advances and social changes with surprising accuracy.
While AI is now widely known for its practical applications – resembling natural language processing and pattern recognition – science fiction often offers more compelling and thought-provoking perspectives.
In movies and series, AI and robots are portrayed as each harmonious and threatening, and pictures of the longer term are presented during which technology will be seamlessly integrated into on a regular basis life. These stories spark essential conversations about how AI could shape our world.
In one current study with Carmela CucuzzellaDean of the Faculty of Environmental Design on the Université de Montréal, and Negarsadat Rahimia graduate student studying the impact of facade design on sustainability and quality of life in town, we examined how AI will be used to boost environmental awareness and promote meaningful community dialogues.
AI for environmental education and motion
Public spaces resembling streets, squares, transport hubs and vehicles create ideal environments for Promoting community interaction, raising awareness and promoting environmental motion. An effective method to raise people's awareness and educate people in public spaces is thru Eco artthat has and might have a powerful emotional impact Inspiring individuals to adopt more environmentally friendly behaviors.
Our study examined the potential real-world applications of AI and other futuristic technologies, resembling those depicted in science fiction series , And .
Science fiction technologies on television
We conducted a survey asking people how likely they’re to need to bring various science fiction technologies from these series into reality. The survey included 30 participants from North America and Europe, recruited through social media platforms resembling LinkedIn, Instagram and X.
The two most preferred technologies were smart screens and Mirror (grouped into one category) and intelligent voice-activated assistants; self-driving cars and flying vehicles were among the many following technologies. This suggests a preference for safer, lower-impact innovations.
In contrast, the least preferred technologies were simulated reality, AI-driven behavior prediction, Social media rating systems for human interaction and AI humanoids. These decisions reveal an aversion to deeper integration of AI into social interactions, often portrayed within the dystopian visions of series.
We also interviewed Ozgur Ozkan, CEO of Keymate.AI, who noted that popular culture influences technical innovation by driving public demand and investor interestcrucial for major developments. Regarding the environmental impact of AI, he argued that while AI will be used to scale back waste, its energy requirements and drive to scale back costs could undermine actual sustainability – a difficulty also raised by computer and energy researchers.
Public environmental communication
We have developed two contrasting future scenarios related to how governments can communicate with people concerning the environment and sustainability. The first scenario, “Participatory Communication in Public Spaces,” envisages safer technologies with an emphasis on individual control and strict regulations. AI could be used to enhance public spaces resembling parks and libraries to encourage community collaboration in environmental education. Data protection is protected by strict regulations that balance technological progress with social well-being.
In the second scenario, the “AI-driven social structure,” our society allows for less regulated technologies and prioritizes surveillance. Minimal regulation would allow advanced AI to offer personalized services in urban areas, with a concentrate on individual data collection for use for corporate profit. AI algorithms collect personal data from residents, discover patterns and adapt the environmental content to the person's needs and learning styles. However, there are privacy concerns attributable to the shortage of information protection.
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Both scenarios are plausible. The key query is: How can we design protected and inclusive public spaces to advertise discussions about environmental issues and sustainability? Public spaces should welcome diverse communities and promote a way of belonging.
Technologies resembling virtual reality and augmented reality offer opportunities to create latest digital spaces for interaction and collaboration, but additionally present challenges in maintaining meaningful human connections.
Environmental Impact
AI technologies have the potential to support sustainable practices. However, the numerous energy requirements of advanced AI systems have to be fastidiously managed to avoid compromising their environmental advantages.
Generative AI requires enormous amounts of energy to even train the models, let alone use them. Policy researchers predict that AI will increase greenhouse gas emissions and eat an increasing number of energy and require larger amounts of natural resources. But AI also offers opportunities for Optimization of energy use. For example, AI will be used to trace behavioral patterns to regulate energy consumption in buildings.
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We should do our greatest to make use of AI efficiently and for good purposes. Stakeholders resembling designers, architects, engineers, policymakers and educators should develop sustainable solutions for his or her applications and make good use of the technology.
Energy efficient AI?
New technologies are being developed to support the energy-efficient use of AI. For example, a recent breakthrough from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology introduces latest “nanoscale” transistors that solve the facility limitations of traditional silicon-based devices resembling smartphones. These transistors work efficiently at much lower voltages.
Implementing thoughtful policies and developing progressive energy efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions is very important to steer AI towards sustainable and ethical use. Additionally, emphasizing the artistic and design elements of public space experiences can increase their value and accessibility for all.
