Check out my latest piece for the Daily Cal, written during my internship at Colossal!
As amazing as anything our generation could uncover or discover, the prospect of encountering a resurrected Dodo bird is beyond any “Frankenstein-esque” project that I had ever imagined. Literally beyond my wildest dreams! However, besides being a cool endeavor, the project has immense ecological promise. The success of such an ambitious conservation initiative will depend, however, on our ability to design new technologies while addressing ethical concerns. But if we don’t innovate, we might face the extinctions of other species and their ecosystems.
It was previous UC Berkeley professor George Poinar Jr.’s research on DNA preserved in prehistoric amber that inspired Michael Crichton to write the script for blockbuster movie “Jurassic Park.” Now, with artificial intelligence, or AI, tools developing rapidly, we are experiencing major changes in our lives, work and learning experiences.
These technologies present unparalleled opportunities to drive innovation and solve complex challenges — from predicting disease outbreaks to modeling climate change patterns. Universities are already dedicated to expanding the frontiers of knowledge, and we, students, have the opportunity to leverage AI to improve the world through outstanding research and education.
While many are stunned by the fast pace of these tech advancements and are apprehensive of their risks, they offer exciting avenues to explore. In the face of climate change, AI is a powerful tool that, when used responsibly, can revolutionize our approach to mitigating biodiversity loss and protecting our natural world.
On the academic front, UC Berkeley will soon open its new College of Computing, Data Science, and Society — the first new college to be created on campus in over 50 years. Machine learning was already gaining traction among computer scientists and researchers at UC Berkeley in the late 2010s.
However, the real turning point came in 2022 with the advent of technologies like ChatGPT. Since then, AI has sparked a surge in both academic and corporate investment, reshaping research on campus. Faculty and students across all disciplines have begun leveraging AI to accelerate their research, facilitate teaching and design new educational approaches.
AI may be our most promising opportunity to address climate change. Scientists are already using AI to help us mitigate the impacts of climate change by improving our ability to predict extreme weather events and by providing decision support tools to help us respond more effectively. AI aids in mapping greenhouse gas emissions, detecting forest fires and, now, de-extincting species!
To organize these efforts, the Berkeley AI Research Climate Initiative is spearheading projects to address environmental issues through innovative tech-driven solutions. It uses vision techniques to monitor endangered populations in National Parks, relying on unsupervised and self-supervised methods — similar to those used in human face recognition — to automate this task.
Biotechs like Colossal Biosciences (where I have the unique privilege of interning this summer) are working to restore ecosystems and de-extinct species — Dodo birds, the woolly mammoth or the Thylacine.
The forefront of Colossal’s efforts is the integration of AI and CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, pioneered by UC Berkeley professor Jennifer Doudna. This groundbreaking approach involves modifying the genes of Nicobar pigeons to create Dodo bird hybrids that could thrive in our changing climate.
The reintroduction of Dodos to their native habitats in Mauritius will aid with vital ecological roles such as seed dispersal and vegetation management, boosting biodiversity and supporting other wildlife. Plus, Dodos could also help with carbon sequestration — healthy ecosystems with diverse plants are more effective at capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is crucial in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Colossal is already working with various conservation groups to explore ways to use these technologies to protect endangered species, enhance genetic diversity and monitor health. For instance, it uses drones with infrared cameras to study behaviors and habitats of African elephants.
This blend of new tech and conservation know-how not only protects endangered animals but also makes them more resilient against climate change, invasive species and habitat destruction. Humans have transformed ecosystems so dramatically that it led to the extinction of these species, with many more species at risk. Colossal’s work — as well as that of similar companies — could be our only hope to rehabilitate ecosystems and prevent more environmental disasters.
It’s a big step toward global conservation goals.
While we should still design new technologies, we could also leverage existing tools to engage audiences who may not fully understand the importance of such conservation efforts. The vast scale and the complexities of the climate crisis can quickly be overwhelming, which often leads to public disengagement.
Scientific research can be difficult to grasp, especially as we don’t always have all the answers that we’d like to guide our understanding. Naturally, our initial inclination may be to focus on the potential risks and ethical dilemmas: Should we revive species for our own ecological benefits? Are we entitled to play God? These are challenging questions, and perhaps there is no right answer.
However, with a more complete understanding, we could change our perceptions and relationships with nature. We all have different thresholds for accepting information and are capable of changing our minds as we gain more insights. Fortunately, there are many opportunities at the intersection of conservation and education in which students can significantly contribute.
Educational initiatives powered by AI — interactive museum exhibitions, virtual reality learning experiences or immersive apps — hold the potential to bridge gaps between scientific endeavors and public understanding. If we use these tools to address skepticism and generate hopeful scenarios of “what could be” — restored ecosystems through de-extinction, livelihoods saved from climate change and other success stories — we could instill a sense of urgency and (potentially) shift mindsets toward widespread environmental protection.
Ultimately, aligning various perspectives will depend on our ability to innovate and adapt. So it’s up to us to harness AI for the greater good — driving colossal change and unity in our fight against climate change.
Meiya Gujjalu 