After covering many of the exciting possibilities and potential challenges of AI in Earth Observation (EO), the question still remains: Is AI in EO going to be more of a help, or a hindrance? The answer lies in whether or not we can use AI ethically. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Caroline Gevaert, Associate Professor at University of Twente and expert in geospatial technologies and artificial intelligence for sustainable development in Low and Lower Middle Income countries. From the potential biases in AI-driven geoscience research to the ownership and privacy concerns surrounding geospatial data, we shed light on the complex questions, challenges and potential solutions that arise when human decision-making meets machine learning.

As the previous episodes have highlighted, collaboration plays an important role when it comes to using AI to solve real-world problems. So how do we work across diverse stakeholders to do this work properly? We speak with Isabelle Tingzon, Data Science Consultant, UNICEF, about the power of collaboration in her work, which uses AI and geoscience for socioeconomic development and disaster response. Through her experiences, she showcases the potential of collaborative approaches in driving meaningful impact and sustainable development.

Beyond the challenges inherent in using AI in earth observation, there are some incredibly valuable applications for tackling real-world problems. In particular, Geospatial Foundation Models are leading us to unique insights, discoveries, and solutions to real-world problems that we wouldn’t otherwise uncover. How do these models help us do this, and what challenges are they currently being applied to? We speak to Dr. Juan Bernabé-Moreno, the Director of IBM Research Europe, and Dr. Rahul Ramachandran, Project Manager and Senior Research Scientist at NASA to find out!