The Conversation

Collective intelligence describes how people with diverse skills can team up to solve big problems. Those challenges might include responses to natural disasters. They might also encompass areas such as environmental protection and medical research. AI could add a critical new dimension to such efforts.

By enhancing human decision-making, AI could process vast amounts of data in a short time, identify patterns and make predictions.

In disaster relief, images from drones and satellites could be quickly processed by AI to identify vulnerable neighborhoods and send first responders where they are needed most.

In health care, AI already helps doctors make fast and accurate diagnoses by analyzing large patient datasets. Robots equipped with AI can assist surgeons in performing delicate tasks.

When it comes to environmental protection, AI systems could analyze data on pollution, deforestation and wildlife movements, enabling humans to find the most effective solutions.

It’s not about one use of AI or another. AI-driven improvements to different parts of an overall effort can make the entire, interconnected project more adaptive and intelligent.

The key seems to be in recognizing that AI can be a collaborator, not a competitor. When we combine human experience and intuition with AI’s processing power, the possibilities are nearly endless.

Paul Rincon

Commissioning Editor, Science, Technology and Business
The Conversation U.K.

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