AI for a Planet Under Pressure

The report AI for a Planet Under Pressure examines the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to address the contemporary polycrisis by supporting research and decision-making across interconnected sustainability challenges. Synthesizing expert assessments and AI-supported analysis of over 8,500 publications, it evaluates AI’s role across eight critical domains: systemic shocks, Earth system dynamics, ocean stewardship, freshwater security, biodiversity and ecosystem services, urban sustainability, science communication, and collective decision-making. The report finds that AI can significantly enhance scientific understanding, predictive modeling, and governance in complex socio-ecological systems, offering tools to navigate cascading risks and tipping points. However, it also warns of AI’s environmental footprint, algorithmic bias, and unequal access, which may exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and allocative harms. The authors call for responsible, inclusive, and interdisciplinary AI development to support transformative action in the face of accelerating planetary pressures.