Articles

AI, Ecolinguistics and Emotional Intelligence

by Jorge Vallego

In a recent webinar hosted  by Six Seconds Europe and facilitated by ZEST Letteratura Sostenibile, a panel integrated by Dr Arran Stibbe, Jorge Vallego and Ilaria Boffa discussed the intersections of AI, ecolinguistics, and Emotional Intelligence, exploring how these domains can collectively lead to a sustainable transformation in our societal narratives.

At the heart of this discussion was ecolinguistics, which Professor Arran Stibbe defines as the study of the role of language in shaping our interaction with the environment. Ecolinguistics challenges the destructive narratives embedded in our societ, such as the glorification of economic growth and materialism, which contribute to ecological degradation. It advocates for a shift towards narratives that promote sustainability and ecological harmony, urging a re-evaluation of the stories we live by and their impact on the planet.

Artificial Intelligence, particularly through large language models like GPT and its counterparts, has the capability to absorb, replicate and conceptualise the vast array of human language digitally available, and then generate human-like conversation and propositions. However, this also means that AI can perpetuate and amplify existing narratives, including those that are ecologically harmful. The discussion highlighted the critical need for directing AI to replicate human language but guide its discourse to contribute positively to sustainable practices and thoughts.

The webinar also explored the significant role that emotional intelligence can play in this context. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, can guide the development of AI systems to be more empathetic and responsive to human emotions and, by extension, to ecological sensitivity. By integrating EQ, AI systems can be designed to provide answers but encouraging reflection, empathy, and a deeper connection with ecological concerns.

An inspiring aspect of the conversation was the emphasis on collaborative efforts across different cultural and linguistic backgrounds to enrich AI’s understanding and output regarding ecological and emotional intelligence. The H4rmony project, as introduced during the webinar, exemplifies this by integrating ecolinguistic principles across various languages to guide AI’s training in a way that aligns with ecological sustainability and global values.

One of the sound ideas discussed was training AI to prioritise questioning over answering in order to encourage critical thinking and deeper contemplation among users about ecological and emotional aspects. This approach can potentially lead to more reflective and responsible decision-making, aligning closely with sustainable development goals.

In conclusion, the integration of AI with ecolinguistic and emotional intelligence presents a promising frontier in our quest for sustainability. It compels us to build Generative AI as a technological tool that is also a transformative entity capable of driving significant ecological and emotional shifts in culture. By realigning the narratives propagated through AI, we can aspire to a future where technology supports an ecologically balanced and emotionally aware society. We are at a point where we need to go beyond the rational understanding of the ecological crisis; we must internalise it, feel it, and embrace the emotions that drive us to make changes. Emotions such as empathy and courage; empathy that transcends species and time, regarding all life, both now and in the future; and the courage to change the path that leading us towards extinction. AI language models, with their increasingly vast reach, can greatly assist in spreading this message.