AI for Hu-Manatee
Some good Earth news to counteract Mercury retrograde.
Greetings Earthlings! As residents of this planet, we’re all undoubtedly feeling the heat of climate change. The good news is that climate change is one of the problems that data and AI can help us tackle. In honor of Earth Day, I'm spotlighting AI-powered nonprofits (APNs) that are turning the tide for our planet. While I can't offer David Attenborough's soothing narration, I promise stories that are just as compelling as any episode of Planet Earth.
Paws and Reflect
While some organizations are using AI to search for aliens, a number of APNs are directing their efforts towards a more down-to-earth endeavor: communicating with animals. The same technology powering ChatGPT could allow us to reach into the non-human world and begin to understand — even speak — animal languages. Decoding animal communication could revolutionize conservation efforts, improve animal welfare, and deepen our empathy towards our non-human co-inhabitants. The downside? Our pets might finally get the chance to tease us for that ridiculous voice we use with them.
Earth Species Project is at the forefront of using AI and deep learning to unlock animal languages. In a recent Financial Times profile, co-founder Aza Raskin (who is also the co-founder of Center for Humane Technology and host of Your Undivided Attention) recognized a pivotal shift in 2017 with the publication of "Attention Is All You Need." This paper introduced the capabilities of LLMs and generative AI. Raskin had a lightbulb moment — translating animal languages now seemed possible. Why? LLMs are built for this: “They treat everything as a language whose semantic relationships can be transcribed as geometric relationships.” Thanks to advances in AI, we're shifting from decoding geometric relationships to fostering relationships with our non-human friends.
+ If a tree falls in the forest, Rainforest Connection will hear it. Their plan is to stop climate change by listening to the sounds of not just animals, but the entire rainforest.
+ Project CETI is charting a parallel course to Earth Species Project. They’re diving deep, literally and figuratively, by focusing on sperm whales.
+ You, too, can become one with nature by listening to the OG tweeter: birds! Try out Merlin Bird ID, an app that listens to bird sounds and uses AI to identify the species.
"I am possessed with the hope that humans worldwide are smart enough and adaptable enough to put the saving of other species where it belongs: at the top of the list of our most important jobs. I believe that science can help us survive our folly.” - Dr. Roger Payne, principal advisor to Project CETI
Emission Impossible
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a satellite, and it’s here to help us clean up our energy. Meet Climate TRACE, the coalition using AI and satellite data for radical emissions transparency. They're tracking emissions from over 352M major sources worldwide, creating the most comprehensive view into pollution ever. Big companies like Tesla and GM rely on this data to make their supply chains greener. Among its leaders is Gavin McCormick, co-founder of WattTime and Fast Forward alum. Climate TRACE is proving that you don’t need superpowers to save the world — just super data.
+ Climate Policy Radar is also down to hold corporations and policymakers accountable. Their AI tools scan global environmental laws to help shape the regulations of tomorrow.
+ MethaneSAT recently joined the orbit. On March 4, 2024, MethaneSAT effectively detached from the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that carried the emissions-monitor into space. Developed by a subsidiary of the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund, MethaneSAT has unique capabilities to see and quantify methane emissions.
“I’m actually excited about AI in this regard… if we can hang on for a little while, certain problems that seem completely intractable today, like climate change, may actually not be so hard.” - Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
Crop Circuits
Digital Green is sowing seeds of innovation in the field of agtech. For farmers navigating a changing climate, agricultural advisory services are critical. Digital Green's chatbot Farmer.Chat, built in collaboration with OpenAI, provides farmers with instant, tailored advice using a rich database of local practices. Farmer.Chat also promotes sustainable methods that save water, reduce harsh chemical use, and more. Impressively, this initiative is among the first in the world to apply agentic reasoning in a practical scenario. With Digital Green, farmers from India to Kenya can grow their crops without growing their carbon footprint.
+ Farmers for Forests incentivizes environmentally friendly farming. The India-based APN assists farmers in adopting climate-smart agroforestry on parts of their land, using AI to analyze tree count, species, height, health, and carbon sequestration.
+ American farmers are similarly embracing AI. This shift addresses the challenges of climate change and labor shortages, focusing on tech-driven farming to enhance food production and reduce environmental impact. More in BBC.
Quick Bytes
APNs to Watch
Clay
📍 Berkeley, California | 🌍 Climate Solutions
An open-source AI foundation model that organizes geospatial data for meaningful insights.Gramhal
📍 Chhindwara, India | 💰 Economic Empowerment
AI chatbot that provides rural Indian farmers with information on crop prices, weather-based crop advisory, and sustainable land management practices.HERA Digital Health
📍 Adana, Turkey | 💉 Access to Healthcare
AI chatbot that seamlessly integrates with WhatsApp to provide vulnerable populations with personalized healthcare solutions during emergencies.
APN Funding News
Google.org launched its first generative AI accelerator, welcoming a cohort of 21 nonprofits.
Six orgs working in women’s economic development joined the Chat for Women’s Livelihood (CWL) Accelerator, led by Turn.io with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched the 2024 AWS IMAGINE Grant cycle. The new Pathfinder — Generative AI award will provide support for a highly innovative, mission-critical project that leverages generative AI.
Let’s Talk
Fast Forward is hosting an AI co-working space in San Francisco in May, bringing together creative and curious people working on AI for Humanity. If that’s you, indicate your interest here.
Link Library
AI for Humanity Speaker Bureau (great AI speakers for your events)
AI for Humanity Resource Hub (recommended reads, listens, and watches)