Latest news with #AIforClimateandNatureGrandChallenge
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lauren Sanchez Sparks Outrage For Promoting Climate Change Awareness Weeks After All-Female Spaceflight
Lauren Sanchez has found herself at the center of controversy for delivering a climate change message weeks after participating in a historic trip to space. In an Instagram video, the philanthropist spoke about her fiancé's Earth Fund, which is sponsoring a number of "visionary teams" with grants to support their AI-related, climate change, "game-changing" ideas. However, critics were quick to call the post hypocritical, pointing out that Lauren Sanchez had recently engaged in a number of flights that left a sizable carbon footprint. Ahead of her exclusive night out in Venice, Lauren Sanchez garnered the ire of netizens after being spotted promoting climate change in a prerecorded video shared on Instagram. In the clip, Sanchez talked about the Bezos Earth Fund "tackling climate change" to "create a future where our planet thrives without compromise." She also revealed that the foundation, which was launched in 2020, has selected the first round of grantees for the Bezos Earth Fund's AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge. "Over the next eight weeks, these visionary teams will level up their game-changing ideas, making them ready to change real-world problems head-on," the soon-to-be wife said in the video. Those who emerge victorious after the eight weeks are up will then be handed a mouthwatering prize to pursue their ideas. "And then, up to 15 standout finalists will receive up to $2 million each to bring those bold solutions to life, so stay tuned," Sanchez added. In the post's comment section, a netizen claimed that Sanchez's message was hypocritical, given that she has been flying around in recent weeks. The journalist was one of six famous women who served as crew members on Blue Origin's recent trip to space and subsequently jetted off to Paris for her bachelorette party. She was also recently spotted with her fiancé on his $500 million superyacht, coasting across the sea. "Lol, save the planet, but I'll be on a jet flying all over the world and in space with my friends. Yeah, right, no footprint here," a user commented under Sanchez's post. "Traveling in a super yacht polluting the sea like hell, going to space for fun 11 minutes and polluting more than 1 person in a year..... definitely not an example," a second individual remarked. "Doesn't walk the talk with the jet fuel burning hen parties that could have been on Zoom," a third fellow wrote. "Girl bye. You went to space for a minute polluting the earth with tonsssss of Co2 for your own pleasure," Another annoyed person noted. Interestingly, even more carbon emissions are expected in June from Sanchez and her fiancé, Bezos, when they tie the knot in Venice. They have invited around 200 guests, including top Hollywood celebrities, many of whom will have to fly in from different parts of the world. Bezos' yacht, Koru, will also play a part in the celebration, which will likely add even more to the total carbon footprint. Back in 2023, reports revealed that the luxury superyacht releases about 7,154 tons of greenhouse gases every year, a number that is 447 times more than what an average American produces within the same period. In what appears to be an effort to counterbalance the environmental impact, the billionaire has been paying for carbon offsets. These initiatives support environmental projects that help cut down greenhouse gases in the air Meanwhile, ahead of the nuptials, a source has confirmed that the soon-to-be couple are truly into each other. "They're like two kids in their relationship; they are madly in love and have endless fun with each other," the insider said, per the Daily Mail. "Whether it is watching movies, hanging out on their yacht, having dinners, being with family and friends, it is an endless array of good times. Getting married can't happen soon enough," the source added about the lovebirds. Speaking further about their bond, the insider revealed that Sanchez always hypes her man as "perfect" to her friends. "They genuinely like each other," the insider continued. "They know what they have in life and are enjoying it to the fullest. They are each other's lottery ticket." While it is already known that Bezos and Sanchez would be having their nuptials in Venice, it reportedly won't be at any of the churches in the city. Instead, the couple is said to have picked a theater at an undisclosed location in the city to host the 200 guests they have invited. "The word is that they have booked the theater, which has been restored," a source told The U.S. Sun. "It's not your usual venue for a wedding; it would be iconic." They added, "Everyone is talking about the wedding, and it's going to be a huge celebration." According to the outlet, the venue has already blocked out dates for two weeks in June, including the days around June 24 and 26, when Sanchez and Bezos are expected to get married. It's also said that the place can be reached by water, giving guests a quieter, more private way to arrive.
Axios
21-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Exclusive: Jeff Bezos' plan to find AI climate wins
The Bezos Earth Fund is unveiling the first recipients in its grant program to harness AI for biodiversity protection, sustainable proteins, improving power grids and more, according to details shared exclusively with Axios. Why it matters: While AI's energy suck gets tons of attention, the Bezos program explores how AI can further climate and ecological work. The big picture: On Wednesday, the fund is revealing the 24 grants under phase 1 of the $100 million "AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge" launched in 2024. Each project will receive an initial $50,000. Later this year, up to 15 of the most promising will receive $2 million. Initial recipients take part in an "innovation sprint" in which they refine the project and are matched with private-sector AI and tech experts for collaboration. Driving the news: Just a few examples of projects from university researchers and nonprofits, per the Bezos fund summaries... Essential Impact, a nonprofit biosciences group, will create an AI tool to ID fungi in under-researched regions that produce shelf-stable proteins. Cornell University researchers are creating a platform that uses artificial cells and AI to "accelerate sustainable protein design and production without live cell fermentation." The National Audubon Society will "deploy AI-powered acoustic monitors across Latin America to track bird populations and measure conservation impact." The Wildlife Conservation Society will scale an "AI-enhanced reef monitoring platform that analyzes imagery 700 times faster" to model climate impacts and protect corals. Botanic Gardens Conservation International will use AI and drone imagery to monitor hundreds of threatened timber species and detect illegal logging. The University of Witwatersrand will use AI to "enhance weather forecasting in Africa by merging new ground data with satellite inputs." The goal is to produce medium-range forecasts up to 3,500 times faster to help with climate and farming resilience. The intrigue: The program has a norm-breaking approach. It sought applicants with cool ideas and will help them leverage tech expertise, rather than making deep, longstanding AI experience the table stakes. "The way we did this grand challenge was a little different, and it was deliberate in every way," Amen Ra Mashariki, the fund's head of AI and data strategies, said in an interview. One goal is bridging the gap between front-line environmental work and advanced tech innovation. "We want climate and nature experts, climate and nature people who have been on the ground solving these problems. We want to bring you into this AI revolution," he said. State of play: There's a lot of interest in using AI for environmental aims. Mashariki said the program received over 1,200 proposals and considered ways the fund could best accelerate solutions.
