THE WORLD IS ALREADY INTELLIGENT
It is hard to process how quickly the world is changing. I think we all sense, to varying degrees, in some visceral part of our psyche that things just don’t feel the same, even if they may look it. And this is not just in terms of climate or political discourse but also in terms of human agency. With each passing year it seems the exponential rate of technological advancement floods our lives with new conveniences, possibilities, efficiencies, and distractions, which are as wonderful as they are frightening. Artificial intelligence is just the next and perhaps most consequential leap, and I cannot help asking myself why it feels so disruptive. And that is not to say that its arrival portends some dystopian future where humanity is enslaved by machines to save us from ourselves, but more that it feels like another wedge in an already fragmented world; disconnecting us further from each other and our surroundings. Moreover, it is another form of consciousness emerging in an already conscious world. One that has spent the last 3.8 billion years perfecting itself, and thrives in equal measure in the cells of our bodies as in the stars above. That being, of course, natural intelligence.
I will not argue that one is ostensibly better than the other, though it’s clear which one we cannot live without. I will argue that as the world barrels towards this uncharted technological frontier and we integrate more smart devices and automation into our lives, that we also find ways to incorporate more natural wisdom as well. That we find, in our individualized way, a balance between these two forces. It is something we all already do somewhat reflexively (consider the type of calendar one may pin up on a windowless cubicle wall), but I think it’s time we bring more intentionality to it. There are the obvious yet still important biophilic gestures, such as adding plants to a balcony, planting fruit trees along the sidewalk, or adding a bird bath to a backyard. Letting our gardens grow wild can be a passive yet powerful act of biomimicry by creating habitat, building soil, holding moisture, and recycling nutrients. But I think it can be even simpler than that. This may sound banal, but acknowledging that nothing we do is separate from nature can be a powerful shift in perspective, and make even the simplest of gestures become beacons of natural wisdom. Everything in nature is built on connections; interdependent species co-evolving within their respective ecosystems and with larger planetary cycles. Darwin even said,
“The most important of all causes of organic change is…the mutual relation of organism to organism; the improvement of one being entailing the improvement or extermination of others”
We too exist in such dynamic relationships, and when we stop to consider them we can honor our role in these systems and perhaps even change our behavior to make them healthier. For example, the way we move affects the quality of our air, so we can be mindful of how often we drive. Or when we turn on the tap we are part of the water cycle, however distantly, so we can be mindful of how long the water runs when brushing our teeth. Or acknowledging that everything comes from something and goes somewhere when we’re done with it, so we can be conscious of what we buy and what we waste. These concepts are not new, and have been touted by ‘green living’ experts for ages now. But I hope to offer more depth as to what they are tapping into on a fundamental level. Nature exists everywhere. It is not beyond the boundaries of the city or outside the walls of our homes. It is endemic to all places and every decision we make. And when we start to shift our mindset towards thinking we are part of deeply interconnected systems, we become less like a machine and more like a participant in something living and larger than ourselves.
This type of thinking can be applied at many scales, and many municipalities are even beginning to understand that as planetary changes create new problems, nature offers solutions. Los Angeles, for example, is beginning to shift its harrowed relationship to water in the face of decreasing frequency but increasing intensity of seasonal rain. Instead of following the conventional approach of piping in potable water from hundreds if not thousands of miles away, while simultaneously conveying rainwater out, it is transforming itself into a sponge city, whereby stormwater is captured and stored locally. This will replenish the groundwater supply as nature intended, while decreasing strain on existing stormwater infrastructure. San Francisco has for decades advocated for and improved its forest canopy for shade, air filtration, and habitat, while also being a pioneer city for municipal composting that feeds local farms. Paris has been actively expanding its pedestrian infrastructure for biking and walking in a post-pandemic, people centric urban landscape to connect residents with the outdoors and improve health and quality of life. Nothing in nature is wasted, so building reuse and adaptive repurposing of offices into housing In New York is a beautiful example of turning human development into a conscientious act of regeneration and renewal. Cities are incubators of change, and as they shift focus to reuse, biomimicry, and land conservation and protection, we may be amazed how much healthier they can become.
Emulating relational change, what might a future look where N.I. and A.I. actually cooperate with each other? For the world to survive the challenges born of its past and glaring in its future, I believe all forms of intelligence can and should be used. There are some encouraging examples already where AI is being used to monitor forest health in the Amazon or predict the health of bee colonies. A friend of mine in Canada even used ChatGPT to create a permaculture garden, focusing on native interdependent species chosen to maximize seasonal benefits for pollinators and migratory birds. The result was staggeringly complex and effective. These are but a few examples, more of which emerge everyday I’m sure, that showcase the power of this technology to be another tool in our belt for global healing. At the moment, however, and I acknowledge the technology is still in its infancy, it may be having the opposite effect. The energy needed to power the data centers to make this service possible are enormous energy hogs, and in many cases are delaying state and national climate goals as fossil fuel based generators are staying online to keep up with the demand this technology creates. In understanding relationships, it is important to consider these consequences when presented new technologies so we may decide how (and if) to use them. That being said, with systematic and conscientious shifts in energy production already underway, the potential is great for A.I. to become a global partner and not another global problem.
When we need to heal from the stress of the world, it’s no coincidence many of us seek out green places: a quiet walk in the woods with nothing but our thoughts, a park to lay on cool grass, or a beach to bask on hot sand. The places where we feel at home, at peace, are often the most wild and verdant. While there are many reasons we do this, I think at its core these gestures solidify our connection to and interdependence with the world around us. We are born of it, and it is within us as much as without. There is a wisdom in it that showcases billions of years of evolutionary programming; a code we do not yet know how to write ourselves. Nothing seemingly can stop the dawn of artificial intelligence, but with a little foresight I think we can use it as a tool to reverse the damage we have done to this planet, and create a future healthier, stronger, and more resilient than we have dared to dream. One where all forms of intelligence can thrive.
“If we surrender to earth’s intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees”
- Rainer Maria Rilke