How AI is reshaping wildlife conservation — for better or worse

Researcher Alexandre Delplanque utilizes drones and AI to count waterbirds in Senegal, dramatically reducing the time needed for analysis amidst a biodiversity crisis where wildlife populations have decreased over seventy percent since 1970. While AI aids in identifying and counting species, critics raise concerns about its environmental impact, including high energy consumption and water usage from data centers, which could exacerbate public health issues. Despite these criticisms, many projects leverage AI to process extensive wildlife data, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations in conservation technology.