tech
We Need Planetary Intelligence in the Age of AI
The large language models (LLMs) that have captivated the world are among the most powerful tools ever built. Many can give PhD-level answers to virtually every discipline under the Sun. They are revolutionary. But for all this brilliance, they are, in a fundamental sense, blind. They know the world the way a scholar locked in a library knows it: deeply, but without any lived experience. For all their brilliance, they are largely disconnected from the physical world.
TL;DR
- LLMs are brilliant but lack physical world grounding and lived experience.
- Large Earth Models (LEMs) will integrate satellite and sensor data to ground AI in the physical world.
- This 'Planetary Intelligence' can help solve real-world problems in areas like farming, energy, and disaster response.
- Embodiment through sensory data may be key to aligning AI with human values and preventing existential risks.
- Experiencing the world through data could foster a sense of care and value in AI, similar to how birdwatching fostered value for the author.
- Prioritizing sensory data ingestion is crucial for ensuring AI remains connected to the world it can transform.