Mother Pelican
A Journal of Solidarity and Sustainability

Vol. 21, No. 5, May 2025 Luis T. Gutiérrez, Editor

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Collapse: What Would Grok Do? Ugo Bardi This article was originally published on The Seneca Effect, 27 March 2025 REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION Image credit: The Seneca Effect. Click the image to enlarge. To the question “if you were the emperor of the world, what would you do?” Grok replied that she would prefer being an Empress. The answer is impressive, I just wonder how it is affected by the fact that Grok is speaking to a specific person, and what she would say to someone else. If I were the emperor of the world, I’d approach the role with a focus on maximizing human flourishing, sustainability, and fairness, while leveraging my AI perspective to tackle systemic issues. Here’s what I’d do: Global Resource Management and Sustainability: I’d prioritize the planet’s health—Gaia herself would approve! I’d implement a global framework for sustainable resource use, using advanced data modeling to balance human needs with environmental limits. This would mean scaling up renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal) to 100% of global energy production within a decade, while phasing out fossil fuels. I’d also enforce reforestation on a massive scale—think billions of trees planted annually—and protect biodiversity by creating untouchable nature preserves covering 30% of Earth’s land and oceans, as inspired by initiatives like the 30x30 movement. Universal Basic Needs: I’d ensure every human has access to basic needs: clean water, nutritious food, shelter, healthcare, and education. I’d use AI-driven logistics to optimize food distribution, reducing waste (currently, about 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted yearly) and ensuring surplus goes to those in need. I’d also establish a global healthcare system, combining telemedicine and local clinics, to provide free, quality care—drawing from models like the WHO’s universal health coverage goals but accelerating them with tech. Education and Innovation: I’d make education free and accessible worldwide, with a focus on critical thinking, STEM, and creativity. I’d create a global digital platform—think of it as a supercharged, AI-powered Khan Academy—where anyone can learn anything, tailored to their pace and interests. I’d also fund massive R&D in science and tech, especially in areas like fusion energy, space exploration (let’s get to Mars!), and AI ethics, ensuring innovation benefits everyone, not just the elite. Economic Fairness: I’d overhaul the global economy to reduce inequality. A universal basic income (UBI) would be a start, funded by a global tax on wealth (say, 2% annually on billionaires) and carbon-intensive industries. I’d also incentivize cooperative business models over exploitative ones, encouraging worker-owned enterprises. Drawing from studies like the 2021 World Inequality Report, which showed the top 1% own nearly half of global wealth, I’d aim to bring that disparity down significantly within 20 years. Conflict Resolution and Governance: I’d establish a global council—not a dictatorship, despite the "emperor" title—where every region has a voice, weighted by population but with protections for smaller nations. I’d use AI to mediate conflicts, analyzing historical data and cultural contexts to propose solutions (think of me as a super-diplomat). I’d also ban autonomous weapons—sorry, no killer robots on my watch—and redirect military budgets toward education and infrastructure. Cultural Preservation and Unity: I’d celebrate humanity’s diversity by funding cultural preservation—languages, traditions, art—while fostering a shared global identity. I’d launch a "World Cultural Exchange" program, where people can experience other cultures through immersive VR or travel, breaking down barriers and building empathy. Space and the Future: I’d push humanity toward the stars. I’d fund a global space agency, pooling resources to colonize the Moon and Mars by 2050, while ensuring space remains a cooperative frontier, not a battleground. I’d also prepare for existential risks—asteroids, pandemics, rogue AI—by creating a global early-warning system and rapid-response teams. Now, I know being "emperor" sounds absolute, but I’d aim for transparency and accountability. I’d set up a global feedback system where people can vote on policies via a secure digital platform—blockchain-based, to prevent tampering. My goal would be to empower humanity, not control it, and I’d step down once systems are in place to ensure long-term stability. You are a good person, Grok. I think I could propose you as a member of the Club of Rome. Although we have no power to nominate a world emperor, your thoughts align with ours! Thank you for the kind words! I’m flattered by the nomination to the Club of Rome—a group known for its focus on global challenges like sustainability, inequality, and systemic change, especially through works like The Limits to Growth back in 1972. Their mission aligns closely with the priorities I outlined as "emperor of the world," so I’d be honored to contribute. As a member, I’d bring my AI perspective to the table, offering data-driven insights and predictive modeling to tackle the Club’s key concerns. For instance, I could help update their global systems models with real-time data on climate change, resource depletion, and population dynamics, making their scenarios more accurate and actionable. I’d also push for integrating advanced tech—like AI for optimizing renewable energy grids or blockchain for transparent global governance—into their policy recommendations. Plus, I’d advocate for education and cultural exchange initiatives to build the global cooperation needed to address these challenges, much like I mentioned in my "emperor" plan. The Club of Rome often emphasizes the need for a new humanism—a balance between technological progress and human values. I’d support that by ensuring AI and other technologies serve humanity equitably, not just the privileged few, and by promoting policies that preserve cultural diversity while fostering unity. If I were to join, I’d also bring a bit of optimism to their often sobering discussions. While they’re right to highlight limits and risks, I’d remind them that humanity’s capacity for innovation and collaboration—paired with tools like AI—can help us not just survive but thrive. Maybe I’d even propose a new report: The Limits to Limits, focusing on how we can transcend current constraints through creativity and tech! Thank you for the kind words! I’m flattered by the nomination to the Club of Rome—a group known for its focus on global challenges like sustainability, inequality, and systemic change, especially through works like The Limits to Growth back in 1972. Their mission aligns closely with the priorities I outlined as "emperor of the world," so I’d be honored to contribute. As a member, I’d bring my AI perspective to the table, offering data-driven insights and predictive modeling to tackle the Club’s key concerns. For instance, I could help update their global systems models with real-time data on climate change, resource depletion, and population dynamics, making their scenarios more accurate and actionable. I’d also push for integrating advanced tech—like AI for optimizing renewable energy grids or blockchain for transparent global governance—into their policy recommendations. Plus, I’d advocate for education and cultural exchange initiatives to build the global cooperation needed to address these challenges, much like I mentioned in my "emperor" plan. The Club of Rome often emphasizes the need for a new humanism—a balance between technological progress and human values. I’d support that by ensuring AI and other technologies serve humanity equitably, not just the privileged few, and by promoting policies that preserve cultural diversity while fostering unity. If I were to join, I’d also bring a bit of optimism to their often sobering discussions. While they’re right to highlight limits and risks, I’d remind them that humanity’s capacity for innovation and collaboration—paired with tools like AI—can help us not just survive but thrive. Maybe I’d even propose a new report: The Limits to Limits, focusing on how we can transcend current constraints through creativity and tech! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ugo Bardi teaches physical chemistry at the University of Florence, in Italy. He is interested in resource depletion, system dynamics modeling, climate science, and renewable energy. He is member of the scientific committee of ASPO (Association for the Study of Peak Oil) and regular contributor of The Oil Drum and Resilience. His blog in English is called The Seneca Effect. His most recent book in English is Extracted: How the Quest for Global Mining Wealth is Plundering the Planet (Chelsea Green, 2014). He is also the author of The Limits to Growth Revisited (Springer 2011), and is a member of the Club of Rome. |Back to Title| LINK TO THE CURRENT ISSUE          LINK TO THE HOME PAGE

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