Artificial Ignorance: A Looming Threat We Can't Ignore
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Chapter 1 Understanding Artificial Ignorance
The public is understandably concerned about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). However, there's another pressing issue we need to address: artificial ignorance. Currently, a strong consensus exists among esteemed climate scientists regarding the urgent threat posed by climate change. The United Nations Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (UN IPCC) has delivered alarming warnings that we are on the brink of a major crisis, yet daily life continues largely unaffected by this pressing reality.
Section 1.1 The Brave Voices
A small group of activists, such as “Just Stop Oil” (JSO), has been attempting to raise awareness by conducting slow marches in central London for the past month. Unfortunately, these individuals are often disparaged in the media, labeled as “eco-zealots,” “eco-loons,” or even “eco-clowns,” depending on the perspective of the editorial team at various publications.
Subsection 1.1.1 The Media's Role
Section 1.2 The Strategy of Division
Rather than coming together to address the climate crisis, society seems more divided than ever. This division can be traced back to the tactics employed by the fossil fuel industry, which have been lifted from the playbook of the tobacco industry. For decades, the tobacco sector effectively diverted attention from the clear link between smoking and cancer by disseminating misinformation, casting doubt on scientific findings, and undermining credible scientists. The fossil fuel industry has adopted a similar approach, creating confusion about climate science.
Chapter 2 The Consequences of Misinformation
The result has been a widespread belief among the public that uncertainty still exists around climate change. In the U.S., this misinformation has even divided opinions along political lines. A notable portion of the population perceives climate action as a conspiracy, socialistic agenda, or even a natural cycle, reflecting the success of the fossil fuel industry's strategy. This is a different form of AI—artificial ignorance—that poses an equally significant threat to our future and that of upcoming generations.
Further Reading:
- Fossil fuel industry caught taking a page out of the tobacco playbook | Dana Nuccitelli
- Stealing from the tobacco playbook, fossil fuel companies pour money into elite American research.
- Exxon uses Big Tobacco's playbook to downplay the climate crisis, Harvard study finds.
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