2026 Articles

Climate Scientist Marco Tedesco Examines What Responsible AI Should Look Like

Manve, Vishal

Climate scientist Marco Tedesco examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping scientific research and why its adoption must be guided by human judgment, transparency and ethical responsibility. Drawing on initiatives at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the article explores AI’s potential to accelerate coding, data analysis and pattern recognition while highlighting concerns about bias, dependency, authorship, inequity and the environmental footprint of data centers. Tedesco advocates an interdisciplinary approach that connects AI with climate science, gender, mental health, community impacts and social justice. He argues that researchers should neither reject nor uncritically embrace AI, but develop safeguards that ensure the technology supports scientific curiosity and serves society equitably.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, responsible AI, climate science, AI ethics, climate justice, AI governance, environmental impacts of AI, data centers, digital colonialism, scientific integrity, AI and society, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia Climate School, Marco Tedesco