AI and other artificial things are not natural beings. Yet sometimes, it feels like some treat them like human beings with unlimited potential to address the issues and needs of the people (public) in a way that helps to achieve natural stability. As I examine the evidence about the current state of natural ecosystems and nations worldwide, I realize there is no room for us to procrastinate or follow the rules of the games that move us closer to a tipping point of irreversibility. 

Responsible AI is a misnomer for several reasons. First, humans with various objectives and interests develop, deploy, and use the tools. The ground truth in AI, when the goal is to satisfy desires or wants, depends on the level of biases of decision-makers. That is to say, the expected outcome for many societies is based on the known contributing factors to past outcomes, norms, and shared beliefs. Eliminating or reducing biases will require the eradication of systemic social programming. It also requires the people who help develop models and make decisions on behalf of the public or shareholders and the users to reduce their biases. 

Second, there are challenges when it comes to transparency and accountability of enterprises and institutions. One has to consider systemic issues, privacy, and trade secrets. It would be great if justice in action instead of pyramid or groupthink power dynamics influence how decisions are made. Hence, there is a greater need to ensure the objectives of various entities align with the needs for holistic health and security. 

Third, explainability of the AI models will likely turn into an elaborate explanation of expected outcomes given the objectives, systems, inputs, and beliefs. If the goal is to win ruthless competition and maximize profit, GDP, or excitement, in some cases the things that harm the public and ecological health will be treated as externalities. Equally, when experts focus on duplicating or assessing the data of effect the solution will be to either guess future outcomes or treat the effect. It is different from addressing underlying issues and needs. 

The bottom line is risk shifting, denial, power dynamics, and rules that worsen imbalances and insecurities are part of the problem. We can recognize the ideology of unlimited energy consumption to maximize profit, GDP, and excitement causes humans to ignore chemistry, physics, the nexus of energy, and limited water, materials, land, and other things on Earth and allowable for ecological health and security. In fact, the ecological and global systemic issues are the real existential threats. The problems affect the urbanites differently than those who live in rural areas. 

“Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.” ~ Cree Indian Proverb 

Eliminating the risk of catastrophe is possible, given there are known circular causal factors of health and security and those of opposite effect. For instance, the ineffective utilization of energy, materials, water and land affects the public and ecological health and security. Thus, It makes sense to replace oversimplified models that worsen imbalances and insecurities over time with holistic assessment and effective utilization of resources. Doing so together with ongoing checks and balances is crucial to achieving natural stability. 

Responsible behaviors and attitudes of humans on Earth in a way that will allow us to meet the needs of public health, safety, and security is vital for the majority to live well. Given what is known, people can work together to achieve common worthwhile objectives. Besides, natural stability is possible with the restoration or preservation of health and security and the minimization of risk. It requires humans to operate within biophysical limits and effective utilization of resources, systems, standards, checks, and balances. 

Even for synthetic energy systems, we can move away from simple categorization of clean and dirt, to holistic end-to-end assessment to determine which combination of diverse energy is better and what are different ways we can use them effectively. Accounting for what we get from energy invested including the impact of heat waste and other ecological stressors given the current state in the external world is important. The multidisciplinary collaboration of natural and applied scientists, indigenous peoples who are conservationists, farmers, lawyers, accountants, and others are also vital for success.

Other animals in the animal kingdom use less energy to get more energy. In addition to metrics like Net Energy and Energy Return On Energy Invested (EROI), we can use metrics for public and ecological health and security as measures of success, prosperity, and the collective superpower of people to meet their needs while achieving natural stability, and progress of a nation. We can do this in a way that ensures continuity of common-wealth to the next generation of energy and Earth Materials, fertile soil, healthy forest, healthy ocean, biodiversity, and clean air and water. In other words, achieving common worthwhile objectives necessitates trustworthy leadership, effective systems, standards, checks, balances, and end-to-end assessment to ensure we utilize effectively energy, Earth materials, land, and water. 

The one world we share has an integrated network of natural ecosystems that support our complex lives. Be aware, that technology is from the Greek words Tekhne and Logos. It means inquiry or study of skill, art, or craft. Please share your views or concerns about the current situation in whatever you are. If you would like to have multidisciplinary conversations or workshops on effective standards, checks, and balances to achieve natural stability for AI or systems let me know. Last but not least, share your recommendation for other possible solutions.  

REFERENCES

Canada's clean electricity future

Dynamic Energy Return on Energy Investment (EROI) and material requirements in scenarios of global transition to renewable energies By Iñigo Capellán-Pérez, Carlos de Castro, Luis Javier Miguel González

Reconciling a positive ecological balance with human development: A quantitative assessment By L. Tamburino, G. Bravo

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants By Robin Wall Kimmerer

An Integrated Assessment Model for comparing electricity decarbonisation scenarios: The case for Spain By L. A. G. Bastarrica, E. M. B. Esquinas, M. Á. C. Pou, R. Y. Ovando