A World We Dare to Imagine Pt. 2

     When I look at the waste facilities at this school, it is refreshing to see a variety of options. You can dispose of trash, recycling, and compost in different bins throughout much of the USC property. Despite that, when you look into the recycling bin, you will likely see trash and food piled up with many plastics. While many people diligently dispose of their waste in the proper bins, many discard their items without much thought. Thus, all the hard work that goes into supplying and labeling new bins goes out the window. 

    In a world we dare to imagine, we could use the power of AI to sort trash on the spot. Instead of three separate containers, the new product would consist of one larger basin with a single hole for disposal. The power of AI has shocked the world in the past few years. ChatGPT has made students and schools rethink the nature of writing and homework, while chatbots are helping experts in their field accomplish new goals. The power of AI to read and identify images could help trash disposal become more efficient and green. 

    In this world we dare to imagine, the efficiency of the AI trash collector negates the simple problem of moral hazard. The most zealous climate advocate and the staunchest deniers only have one mechanism for throwing out their trash. Unfortunately, some things cannot be done unless everyone chips in, and we have seen that not everyone is committed to saving this planet. Technologies like this could help ensure the battle against climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation continues.