AI: The Tech-Climate Change

My thoughts on how the effects of climate change are similar to the effects of generative AI on the modern educational world.

Summer 2024 wasn’t that long ago. Here in Austria, we’ve even had an unusually hot September, punctuated by a few cooler, rainy and even stormy spells. It’s unusual for us - I don’t usually wear summer clothes to work in September.

Those who experienced this summer in Europe can confirm that temperatures reached record highs. According to official records, it was the hottest summer on record in Austria. Temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea also reached record highs. I can personally attest to this. Swimming in Cyprus in 30 degree water was surreal. And now we've also had record storms and floods in Central Europe, which experts say have been fuelled by the effects of climate change.

I mention all this - as an educator in Europe - because I couldn't help but draw parallels between these phenomena and the effects of generative AI. Both are reshaping our world in ways we never anticipated, forcing us to adapt and reconsider what we once thought of as "normal."

Just as the scorching heat of summer 2024 caught us off guard, the explosive growth of AI has left us reeling, both demanding immediate attention and adaptation.

Don’t get me wrong - I loved wearing shorts and Birks every day. I loved the heat, but sometimes it was too much. In our regions, we were simply not used to the intense and prolonged heat. People died. Suddenly, conversations about installing air conditioning or building backyard pools – once considered luxuries in our typically mild climate – became serious considerations for many households. And yes, we have been having unusually hot summers and not-so-cold winters for years. It’s not a one-off thing. And yes, it’s true. Europeans do not generally do air-conditioning. THAT should show you how dire the situation is.

Similarly, the world of technology experienced is experiencing its own heatwave: the rapid rise of generative AI and its ramifications on workflows everywhere. Just as climate change is altering our physical environment, AI is transforming our digital and professional landscapes. Both have arrived with an intensity and speed that have left us scrambling to adapt.

Adapting to the New Normal

People in temperate countries are used to being flexible about weather patterns. You built your house (or rented a place) and invested in a wardrobe accordingly. Now, things have shifted. Extreme weather is affecting farmers. Our governments are talking about redesigning urban landscapes, moving towards more natural spaces and less concrete (renaturation) and companies are considering adjusting working hours to avoid the hottest parts of the day. And yes, this also affects schools. Recent events have forced many residents in Europe to rethink their insurance policies or consider building homes and livelihoods in less flood-prone areas. Governments are being forced to consider where to invest in improved infrastructure. All of this is real, tangible and urgent.

Similarly, employers in general and educational institutions in particular are weighing on how to integrate AI, how to train teams to use it, and what ethical guidelines and regulations to adopt. Schools are deciding which tools to use, how to redesign curricula to include AI skills, and how to conduct exams on computers wired with easy access to online aids. A Great Restructuring is starting to take place. There is real talk of doing away with theses at University level. The Austrian Ministry of Education made the bold step of making the high-school thesis (Vorwissenschaftliche Arbeit) no longer compulsory at Academic High schools. With AI, many feel we cannot adopt a wait-and-see attitude. It is not something that can wait. It's real, it's tangible, it's urgent.

A New Tech-Climate Brings Change to Education

With climate change, we have some idea of how to deal with its effects, or at least we can make educated guesses about how to invest resources. Similarly, the current state of generative AI technologies points to certain future realities, and we can see how educators' workflows will be affected, and what opportunities exist. A few are listed here:

1. Primary Schools:

   • Interactive AI tutors providing personalized learning experiences

   • AI-powered tools helping teachers identify and address learning gaps

   • Concerns about maintaining human connection and social skill development

2. Secondary Schools:

   • AI-assisted grading systems freeing up teachers' time for more meaningful interactions

   • Challenges in preventing AI-assisted cheating and maintaining academic integrity

   • Opportunities for students to learn AI skills, preparing them for future careers

3. Universities:

   • AI transforming research methodologies across disciplines

   • Debates about the role of AI in creative writing and artistic expression

   • Increased focus on teaching critical thinking and AI ethics

Of course, educators at all levels are grappling with how to integrate AI into their teaching methods while preserving the essence of education: fostering critical thinking, creativity, and human connection. The changes to society warrant a separate article. As many others have written, generative AI is changing how we write or how we create.

Pragmatism Rules

The parallels between the effects of climate change and the AI revolution are clear: both are forcing us to reevaluate our way of life and work, or even our definitions of what makes us human or what we should be teaching in schools and how. Many are thinking pragmatically about how to adapt to face these challenges head on.

As we install air conditioners to cope with hotter summers, we're also installing AI tools in our workflows. As we redesign our cities to be more climate-resilient, we're redesigning our educational systems to promote AI-literacy.

The key to thriving in this new normal – whether it's climate or AI-induced – lies in our ability to adapt, innovate, and maintain our human values in the face of rapid change. It's a tall order, but if there's one thing humans have proven throughout history, it's our remarkable capacity for adaptation. And educators have proven time and time again, that we are Master Innovators and Experts at being flexible (think back to how quickly we adapted to Lockdown-Teaching).

Whether we face changes in climate or changes in technology, the first step is, of course, acceptance. But the next, crucial step is action. Our future depends on our ability to navigate both these storms with wisdom, creativity, and unwavering humanity.

This is my first article after a prolonged break. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read my post.

Image via DALL-E 3 (27.09.2024)
System prompt:
"A pixelated reinterpretation of the famous Japanese painting 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa', but in large, blocky pixels similar to Minecraft. The wave structure closely resembles the original iconic shape, curling dramatically with powerful motion. The color palette is dominated by reds, oranges, and yellows, providing a fiery contrast to the original cool blues, but the composition remains similar, with the large wave towering over the sea and smaller boats below. The pixel art retains the traditional composition and depth, but the colors give it a bold, intense twist."