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Why?

This lesson addresses the varied role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in addressing environmental challenges and climate change, highlighting both its potential benefits and the ethical dilemmas it presents. Through a video, a case study, and a simulation activity, students will explore how AI can contribute to sustainable practices, such as wildlife conservation and energy efficiency, while considering the implications of increased energy consumption and the need for transparency and community involvement. The lesson is designed to encourage critical thinking and informed debate among students about the integration of technology in environmental efforts, encouraging them to consider how future innovations can be guided by ethical and sustainable principles.

Materials Needed

Materials Needed

Printouts of simulation handout Printouts of case study (optional)

Time needed

Time needed

Approximately 45 - 60 minutes

Objectives

  • Students will be able to explain how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can contribute to climate change mitigation and environmental conservation.
  • Students will be able to identify ethical considerations and potential challenges associated with the use of AI in various aspects of society and the environment.
  • Students will be able to analyze the potential impact of AI technology on energy consumption and its implications for climate change.

Key Concepts & Vocabulary

  • Climate Change Mitigation: Actions to limit the magnitude or rate of long-term climate change, typically by reducing greenhouse gas emissions or enhancing carbon sinks.
  • Sustainable Resource Management: The careful, responsible management and use of natural resources to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
  • “Black Box” in AI: Refers to a system or model whose operations or functions are not visible or easily understood, often describing complex AI algorithms.

Lesson Components

  1. Before You Watch: Connect lesson to background knowledge of climate change mitigation and get students’ attention.
  2. Video: Show the pedagogy.cloud video explaining the ethical considerations in the topic of AI use in climate change mitigation.
  3. Case Study: Detail a real-world scenario that relates to the issue of AI use related to climate change.
  4. Simulation: Lead students through an interactive activity exploring the possible ethical considerations.
  5. Discussion: Ask whole-class questions to reflect on experience and consider perspectives.
  6. Assessment: Verify student understanding with an exit ticket.

Warm Up

Guesstimation Quiz: Read the questions below and have students guess the numerical answers. (The bolded answers are the correct ones.) Citation linked in Sources section at bottom of lesson plan.

    1. How much power does it take to generate one AI-generated image?
      1. Enough to charge a cell phone 3%
  • Enough to charge a cell phone 24%
      1. Enough to charge a cell phone 100%
    2. Generating 1000 images this way would be equal in emissions to how many miles driven by an average gas-powered car?
      1. Half a mile
      2. 1.6 miles
      3. 4.1 miles
    1. How many text prompts could you perform on ChatGPT using the same power used in completely charging your phone one time?
      1. 333
      2. 777
      3. 1,000
    2. According to Google’s own reporting, how many gallons of water did the company use in 2023?
      1. 700 million gallons
      2. 5.6 billion gallons
      3. 10.8 billion gallons
    2. AI-generating servers are estimated to use about the same amount of energy as which size of population?
      1. About the same as the city of Houston (about 6.8 million people)
      2. About the same as the state of Florida (about 21.5 million)
      3. About the same as the country of Argentina (about 46 million)

Video

Transcript

Video Script for Narrations

Hello Young Innovators! Today we’re discussing the ethics of gendered voices of AI assistants.
Artificial Intelligence is becoming a bigger part of our lives every day. From smartphones to smart homes, AI voice assistants are everywhere, helping us with tasks, answering our questions, and even keeping us company. But have you ever wondered why most of these voice assistants sound female?
AI voice assistants haven't always been around. In the early days of technology, computers were large, clunky machines that certainly didn’t talk. As technology evolved, so did the ability for machines to interact with us using voice – a feature that is becoming increasingly common.
Imagine asking your AI for the weather, and a deep, authoritative voice responds. Or, picture a soft, gentle voice helping you with homework. Why do these differences matter? Well, they bring us to our main topic: the ethics of gender representation in AI voice assistants. For a long time, most AI assistants like Siri or Alexa had female-sounding voices. This wasn’t just a random choice.
Research showed that people generally found female voices to be warmer and more welcoming. And people were used to hearing women’s voices from back when operators connected phone calls.
On the flip side, some people prefer to hear male voices for authoritative roles, like GPS navigation or voiceovers in documentaries. But this leads to ethical concerns. Are we reinforcing traditional stereotypes about gender roles, stereotyping men in roles of power and women in roles of service?
One method of dealing with this issue is to use gender-neutral voices. These are designed to not clearly sound male or female, aiming to represent a wider range of human experiences and identities. It's a step towards inclusivity, and an attempt to avoid the stereotypes of gender from previous generations.
When AI voice assistants reinforce gender stereotypes, they might also impact how we view gender roles in real life. But when we make these voices gender-neutral, are we erasing gender differences that are a real part of many people's identities?
Some people argue that having a range of gendered voices in AI can reflect the diversity of human experiences. Others believe that breaking away from gendered voices entirely is the key to challenging stereotypes and promoting equality. There’s no easy answer, and technology is constantly evolving to reflect our changing society.
So, what do you think? Should AI voice assistants have a gender? Or should they be gender-neutral to avoid reinforcing stereotypes? As we continue to integrate AI into our daily lives, it's important to think about how the choices we make about technology today shape our future.
Let’s discuss: How do AI assistants impact our attitudes toward gender in the real world?

Case Study

Distribute or read Case Study handout.

Summary: In the town of Greenfield, the AI system TerraTracc was introduced to optimize resource use for climate change mitigation, but led to unintended ecological damage and community concerns about autonomy. The case underscores the need for a balance between AI-driven efficiency and human oversight, suggesting solutions like community-guided AI, adaptive learning, and sustainability education. TerraTracc’s story emphasizes the importance of integrating AI with community input and transparency to ensure technology serves both the environment and local populations effectively.

Student Handout

Case Study: Greenfield’s Climate Effort

Introduction

In the town of Greenfield, a new AI system, TerraTracc, was introduced to optimize water usage and energy consumption based on weather predictions. This AI promised to revolutionize the town’s efforts against climate change by reducing waste. However, as TerraTracc began dictating when and how much to water the parks or power the street lights, concerns arose.

 

Background Information

TerraTracc uses complex algorithms to predict weather changes and adjust the town’s resource use accordingly. Artificial Intelligence, or AI, allows machines such as TerraTracc to learn from vast amounts of environmental data, making automated decisions to maximize efficiency and reduce carbon footprints.

 

Problem Analysis

Despite its initial success, TerraTracc’s control over resource allocation led to unintended consequences. A prolonged, AI-imposed restriction on park watering during a dry spell resulted in significant damage to local flora, disrupting the habitats of several species. Additionally, the community felt sidelined in decision-making processes, leading to debates about the ethical implications of surrendering such control to an AI, no matter how well-intentioned it might be toward climate change mitigation.

 

Possible Solutions

Community-Guided AI: Implement a system where TerraTracc’s recommendations are reviewed by a community board before being executed. This approach ensures that AI assists rather than dictates, keeping the community involved in environmental stewardship.

Adaptive Learning and Transparency: Upgrade TerraTracc to better adapt to unexpected scenarios and be transparent about its decision-making process. This involves the AI learning from past mistakes and the community having access to understand the AI’s logic.

Sustainability Education: Empower residents with knowledge about sustainable practices and the role of technology in climate change mitigation. This education can foster a collaborative environment where technology and human insight work hand in hand.

 

Conclusion

TerraTracc’s journey in Greenfield highlights the delicate balance between leveraging AI for climate change mitigation and maintaining community trust and ecological integrity. While AI can play a pivotal role in conserving resources and fighting climate change, it’s crucial to ensure these technologies complement human wisdom and local ecosystems. 

 

Reflective Questions 

How would you feel about an AI system like TerraTracc managing resources in your community? 

What steps would you take to ensure that AI aids in climate change efforts without compromising the local environment and community involvement?

Simulation

Explain the simulation scenario – A state government wants to institute the use of an AI system in a state park that tracks wildlife and provides data to park officials on how to run the park to help animals and the environment in a climate change mitigation effort. The process includes public meetings to discuss the plan, and offers concerned citizens a chance to voice their concerns.

Distribute the Simulation handout to groups of students (approx. 4 – 5 students.) Each group should choose which student will represent each role. Give students some time to understand their roles and to determine how they will approach the conversation. Roles are listed on the simulation handout.

 

Teacher leads the conversation, bringing up each of the four areas of concern. Below are some bullet points that offer the teacher some suggestions in giving students in various roles hints on what sort of topics to bring up in the conversation.

 

AI and Conservation:

  • State Park Official presents EcoTracc as a means to gain better insights into animal behaviors and environmental changes, facilitating proactive conservation strategies.
  • Eco-Conscious Citizen acknowledges AI’s benefits but raises the issue of increased energy use by AI systems, highlighting the need for sustainable energy sources to mitigate this concern.

Impact on Park Experience:

  • Neighbor  expresses concerns that AI technology could disrupt the park’s natural beauty, possibly deterring visitors.
  • Technology Advocate argues that AI’s mostly invisible monitoring methods and potential educational opportunities for visitors about conservation technology can enhance the park experience.

Reliability of AI in Nature Conservation:

  • Skeptical Citizen voices concerns about the reliability of AI, emphasizing the complexity of natural ecosystems and the risk of over-reliance on technology.
  • State Park Official reassures that AI data will complement traditional conservation methods, with human experts making final decisions.

Transparency and Energy Efficiency:

  • All parties discuss the importance of transparency in EcoTracc’s operation and decision-making process, with a special focus on ensuring the AI system’s energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources to power it, addressing the Eco-Conscious Citizen’s concerns.

 

After giving time for groups to discuss each topic, offer groups the opportunity to mention topics brought up in their conversation. These questions may help in leading this discussion:

  • What were the significant concerns of each role in the conversation?
  • Considering the energy consumption of AI systems like EcoTracc, how can the state park balance the benefits of AI with the need for environmental sustainability?
  • What steps can be taken to ensure EcoTracc’s energy use does not counteract its conservation benefits?
  • How can the community be engaged in a dialogue about the responsible use of technology in natural settings to preserve both the environment and the visitor experience?

Student handout

Simulation Activity: Public Meeting on EcoTracc

The state government has proposed introducing “EcoTracc,” an AI system, in a state park to monitor wildlife and assess climate change impacts. Public meetings are convened to discuss this proposal, attracting citizens with varied concerns and interests related to the project.

Roles

  • State Park Official: Promotes EcoTracc, emphasizing its potential to enhance conservation efforts and monitor climate change impacts.
  • Eco-Conscious Citizen: Supports AI in conservation but is concerned about the additional energy consumption required for AI operation and its paradoxical impact on climate change.
  • Neighbor: Worried about the impact of visible AI technology (like drones or sensors) on the park’s natural ambiance and visitor experience.
  • Technology Advocate: Highlights the efficiency and advancements AI can bring to conservation, believing the benefits outweigh the energy consumption concerns.
  • Skeptical Citizen: Questions the accuracy of AI and its potential to lead to misguided conservation efforts based on incorrect data or predictions.

Discussion Points

  • AI and Conservation
    • How do you see the AI being used in the effort to help endangered animals? 
    • What other concerns exist?
  • Impact on Park Experience: 
    • How will the AI use impact parkgoers’ experience visiting the natural area? 
    • What concerns do different people have?
  • Reliability of AI in Nature Conservation: 
    • In what ways will this effort impact people’s lives? 
    • What happens if AI predictions are inaccurate, or even cause harmful outcomes?
  • Transparency and Energy Efficiency: 
    • How do we make sure that AI use will only produce positive outcomes for people and animals? 
    • How will we understand the suggestions put forward by the AI?

Discussion

These questions are designed to be used in whole-class discussion. Ask questions that relate most effectively to the lesson.

  1. How does AI’s role in weather prediction and conservation affect climate change efforts?
  2. Can AI’s benefits in environmental conservation outweigh its potential negative impacts?
  3. How can ethical considerations guide the development and use of AI technologies?
  4. Why is public transparency and involvement crucial in AI’s adoption in public areas?
  5. How do we maintain natural integrity while leveraging AI’s efficiency in state parks?
  6. What measures can mitigate AI’s concerns regarding reliability, ethics, and energy consumption?
  7. Envisioning the future, how will AI, humanity, and the environment collaborate in climate action?

Assessment

Exit Ticket: Provide a prompt for students to reflect on their learning, such as: 

  • How can AI contribute to combating climate change, and what are some examples from the lesson?
  • What are two ethical considerations mentioned in the lesson when using AI for environmental purposes?
  • Describe one potential drawback of implementing AI in wildlife conservation efforts.

Sources to Learn More