Not purporting to be a techno-geek, and in anyway tech savvy, I read and listen with interest to all the hullaballoo about AI. There seem to be two camps on this issue – those for, and those against. I am not quite sure where I stand on it, suffice to say that I am sure that there are phenomenal applications for AI that we are yet to see, certainly in the ‘text’ environment. From a robotics perspective I suppose if those creatures are not given carte blanche to do as they wish, and are tightly controlled, there should not be any problems going forward. But we will have to wait and see.

  I took the jump and decided that every month I would include an “AI text column” to see how well this form of intelligence is progressing, and to observe how ‘clever’ it really is. I imagined that it would be pretty general in its view. So, I posed the question to the AI platform ChatGPT: ‘Explain the future of conservation in southern Africa’.

  The AI response

  “As an AI language model, I don’t have access to specific information about the future of conservation in Southern Africa beyond my knowledge cut-off of 2021. However, based on current trends and predictions, I can provide some insights.

  Conservation in Southern Africa faces a number of challenges, including habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and human-wildlife conflict. To address these issues, there has been an increasing focus on community-based conservation and the involvement of local people in conservation efforts. This approach recognizes the importance of local communities in the conservation process and seeks to address their needs and concerns in a collaborative and sustainable manner.

  Another trend in conservation is the use of technology, such as drones and satellite imagery, to monitor wildlife populations and combat poaching. This technology can help conservationists better understand the movements and behaviours of wildlife, as well as identify and respond to threats in a timely manner.

  In addition, there is growing recognition of the need to integrate conservation with sustainable development, particularly in rural areas where poverty is a major driver of habitat destruction and overexploitation of natural resources. By promoting sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities, conservationists can help address the root causes of environmental degradation and promote long-term conservation.

  Overall, the future of conservation in Southern Africa will likely involve a combination of approaches, including community-based conservation, technology, and sustainable development. It will require ongoing collaboration and innovation, as well as a commitment to protecting the unique biodiversity and ecosystems of the region”.

  Taking away our ability to think

  It’s quite a general piece, but for it to easily and very quickly respond as it did, was quite amazing. My thoughts went to school and university students, and I wondered whether having access to this sort of technology might take away the ability for original thought and production. Would we, in the future, just load our questions into a portal and regurgitate the resultant response? Or could it add to our widened vision on a subject? I suppose once again time will tell.

  The frightening thought though, is that the human race needs purpose, it need tasks, and it certainly needs thought to probe, enquire and solve issues and matters that arise. Without that I fear we are doomed. So, could we be creating our demise, where our sole reference and ‘go to’ is AI, and as a result we lose the ability to think! Not a pleasant thought at all.

Credit: ChatGPT, chat.openai.com