By this point in time, it is hard to disagree that climate change is a very real phenomenon caused in some part by human intervention. Yes, climate change is cyclical, but that does not mean that the human race has forwarded this cycle. In fact, we have both accelerated and worsened the impact it will have on the planet. As an individual, you can pretend that you are making a difference, but real change comes through a collective, and what better way than the collective of a near trillion-dollar company.
Known to many as the world’s largest GPU producer, Nvidia has become something larger in recent years. Through its devotion to artificial intelligence and now the metaverse. What caught many people’s attention was the announcement made at its recent GTC conference less than two weeks ago. Nvidia is building a supercomputer tasked to create ‘Earth 2,’ a 3D metaverse replica simulation of the Earth with the aim to predict climate change more accurately. Nvidia agrees that existing prediction models are outdated and incomplete due to changing times and result in inaccurate predictions. Not only will Earth 2 predict changes, but it will also rank the causes and even devise solutions and the accompanied models to provide real solutions. These solutions will also be efficient by using their AI as the model will be designed to choose the most significant positive impacts at the cheapest cost.
The author of this article proposes that Earth 2 will need to be populated for accuracy, and thus our digital twins would eventually be placed here if the project develops accordingly. Furthermore, due to AI prediction, they state that this computer has the potential to model our future. By this, they mean using a what-if analysis based on your current life with your connections and standing on Earth, to then determine the best path and future to fit your specific needs. Now, this technology would be far out, and some would argue ethical dilemmas may appear as humans should control their destiny through autonomy. But what if a computer could decide it for you? Earth 2 then begins to look quite like a sci-fi film, but at face value, the predictive capabilities of solving climate change are the initial goal for this project. Personally, I don’t see any harm using AI prediction, I think it is the next step for human technological advancement along with of course AI itself. From a management perspective, AI will hurt a lot of jobs involving decision making as it can be done perfectly by a machine, you can disagree but I believe that to be the case. From a business perspective, I am curious if Nvidia will somehow profit off of something like this. It could surely license this technology to governmental or change agencies for the predictive model applications. But as for the metaverse aspect, I am sure many consumers would pay huge sums of money if it was implemented correctly.
In short, technology is evolving at a rapid pace and is created to provide solutions otherwise impossible for humans alone. If this technology proves to work to some degree, the benefits are extraordinary, and quite frankly, unthinkable at the moment. Afterward, Nvidia can decide whether to become something humanitarian or make a profit off of this revolutionary technology. Either way, it is great to see tech giants working on real solutions, contrary to the popular donations or planting trees. Don’t get me wrong, those are great things to do and most certainly contribute positively, but Earth 2 has the capability for something greater. Financial institutions and large companies are the players that can enact real change, so this is another step in the right direction.
Sources: https://www.technewsworld.com/story/nvidia-launches-earth-2-and-goes-to-war-against-climate-change-87336.html
https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2021/11/12/earth-2-supercomputer/