Wilderness in AI Era

Exploring the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on wilderness and its protection

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly penetrating all areas of our lives – from healthcare to climate research. Its influence is increasingly reaching wilderness as well. AI can be a powerful ally. But at the same time, it brings new risks that remain largely overlooked. A key question arises: how can we harness the potential of AI without weakening the very foundation it depends on – healthy, natural, and self-regulating ecosystems?

AI as a Tool for Understanding Wilderness

One of AI’s greatest strengths is its ability to process and analyze massive amounts of data. This is precisely where traditional tools of wilderness conservation have fallen short – especially in long-term monitoring of large wilderness areas in remote locations.

Key benefits include:

• automatic evaluation of camera trap images (e.g., through animal recognition models that save hundreds of hours of manual work),
• real-time detection of poaching or gunshots via acoustic sensors – already tested in a range of wilderness areas across Europe,
• AI-enhanced satellite imagery for rapid detection of illegal logging or resource extraction,
• predictive modeling of climate extremes (droughts, wildfires, windstorms) and their impacts on forest ecosystems.

These tools enable not only swift response but also systematic trend monitoring – essential for long-term wilderness planning.

Technological Progress vs. Natural Processes

Every technological revolution leaves an ecological footprint. AI is no exception.

Its rapid growth drives increasing demand for computing power, data centers, energy, and rare minerals. These demands often translate into direct impacts on landscapes – including previously untouched natural areas.

Major threats include:

• extraction of rare minerals like lithium, cobalt, or neodymium – essential for batteries, servers, and sensors. Mining often takes place in ecologically sensitive regions,
• construction of energy-intensive data centers – recently also in countries like Finland, Sweden, and Austria, i.e., in areas with high wilderness potential,
• expansion of infrastructure – fiber-optic networks, power lines, and new logistics hubs all contribute to the fragmentation of natural habitats.

These impacts are often subtle but systematic. And while AI itself doesn’t cut down trees or build roads, it is inherently linked to the infrastructure that does.

AI as a Guardian of Wilderness

Despite these risks, AI can significantly contribute to the protection of wilderness – if used wisely, respectfully, and with a clear purpose to safeguard natural processes.

Concrete examples of AI supporting wilderness include:

• modelling of ecological corridors – AI can evaluate animal movements, terrain, and species needs to propose optimal migration routes,
• monitoring of spontaneous natural processes – such as post-disturbance forest dynamics after windthrow or insect outbreaks,
• automated data collection and analysis from non-intervention zones – allowing conservation managers to obtain accurate information on forest health, water quality, or biodiversity without physical presence.

Crucially, AI enables less invasive monitoring. In many cases, this leads to reduced human disturbance – fully aligned with the goal of preserving wildness and naturalness.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence and wilderness don’t have to be in conflict. But their relationship will not be automatically harmonious.

If we deploy AI with humility and respect, it can become a powerful ally – a tool that helps us understand nature, anticipate threats, and protect what is truly irreplaceable. But if allowed to grow unchecked as another pillar of technological expansion, it may generate pressure on landscapes that wilderness cannot withstand for long.

The choice is ours. Like all powerful tools, AI depends on the value framework within which we use it.

It’s not just about what AI can do – but about the goals and principles it is made to serve.