Utilizing AI as a partner to navigate the internet or create realistic images and videos is becoming something that many individuals are beginning to take for granted. Recently, I nearly always explore the web with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Gemini by my side. I also rely on AI chatbots for information while viewing particular shows or touring museums.
However, AI’s capabilities extend beyond just providing fairly dependable support (keep in mind, AI can err); it can actually facilitate groundbreaking discoveries.
We have witnessed numerous instances in recent months. Some scientists employed AI to identify a possible treatment for blindness. Others harnessed AI to engineer rare-earth-free magnets that could be utilized in electric vehicles down the line.
The most recent advancement where AI has played a significant role pertains to concrete. An AI model assisted researchers in devising formulas for lower-carbon, quicker-curing concrete, and they have indeed begun applying it in a real-world initiative.
The exciting aspect is that this innovation doesn’t originate from a construction firm or an academic institution, although such organizations were also engaged. It’s Meta, the colossal social media enterprise that’s racing towards AI superintelligence and investing heavily in AI researchers, that pioneered the faster-curing, more environmentally friendly concrete.
I wouldn’t fault you for being skeptical about Meta AI. The years of Facebook toxicity cannot be erased despite the rebranding. Placing trust in Meta with personal information in the AI era is something I’m not prepared for, and there have already been numerous instances of Meta AI blunders.
Nevertheless, Meta is progressing with its AI endeavors, which entails constructing substantial data centers for Meta AI. It also brings up concerns regarding energy consumption and the carbon footprint linked to Meta AI and its social media platforms. Considering Meta’s ambition for net-zero emissions by 2030, along with the fact that concrete contributes approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions, the notion of a software company tackling lower-carbon, faster-curing concrete seems less unusual.
