We are now in the Era of ChatGPT, and the advent of superintelligence brings with it a slew of ethical questions. Chief among them: are all-knowing and articulate robots going to take our jobs?
In climate tech, the opposite appears to be the case. Last week, the good people over at Climactic put together an excellent, if incomplete, market map of climate tech startups using AI to provide solutions from energy to agriculture.
The report has several fascinating insights, but one that stands out is the prevalence of Analytical AI in climate tech applications over the more widely-known Generative AI.
Analytical AI, also known as "predictive analytics," is a type of artificial intelligence that uses machine learning algorithms and statistical models to analyze data and make predictions or generate insights. It involves the use of historical data to identify patterns and relationships that can be used to make predictions about future events or behaviors.
Generative AI is the technology that we have quickly come to know and love (or fear and loathe) through ChatGPT. It typically involves the creation of new, original data by using algorithms to generate output that resembles a set of input data, like say composing Shakespearean sonnets on climate change just by reading the Bard’s collected works.
To date, almost all the applications of AI in climate tech fall in the analytical category. Whether the task is learning to recognize recyclable plastic, tagging trees that need to be cut down to avoid forest fires, or optimizing the distribution of renewable energy across the grid, automated data analysis is helping climate solutions scale up all over the world.
The role of large language models is so far undeveloped in climate tech, but the opportunities are clear. Federal dollars for climate tech are beginning to flow from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Green New Deal, and tools like ChatGPT could help churn out data-driven grant applications en masse.
Here are three areas where climate tech startups now hiring on Climatebase are leveraging AI and Machine Learning to head off both a climate and paperclip apocalypse.
Greyparrot offers waste recognition software powered by AI to enable the development of advanced smart systems for waste monitoring and sorting at a large scale. The company's goal is to digitize waste management and contribute towards the creation of a world where waste is captured and reused in the most efficient manner possible. The company's vision is to establish a completely digitized, automated, and transparent waste management system that will unlock the financial value of waste, ensuring a clean planet for generations to come.
Recycling is still reliant on manual labor to sort and pick out recoverable material. That makes for an inefficient sorting process and hampers the scalability. As of the end of 2022, their AI-powered systems have analyzed over 400,000 tons of waste at waste plants in 10 countries, and have learned to identify 67 waste categories.
AMP Robotics is a leading innovator in the waste and recycling industry, specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and infrastructure. The company is dedicated to revolutionizing and modernizing recycling by utilizing AI and automation to increase recycling rates and economically retrieve recyclables, which are then utilized as raw materials for the global supply chain. AMP Robotics develops and implements advanced technological solutions to address the key challenges of recycling, making the process more efficient, cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable.
Afresh has a mission to decrease food waste and enhance access to healthy food worldwide by transforming the fresh food supply chain through the use of AI-powered solutions. These solutions optimize various processes, such as food ordering, production, and merchandising, within the multi-trillion-dollar grocery industry. Afresh has developed the first platform that can handle the complexities of fresh food.The company is committed to assisting grocers in decreasing waste, increasing profitability, and providing better, fresher food to their communities.
Berlin-based Plantix is an AgTech startup that offers the most widely downloaded app for farmers globally. The app combines the expertise of prominent research institutions worldwide with artificial intelligence to assist millions of customers in identifying pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies affecting their crops. This enables farmers to obtain an accurate diagnosis and access suitable treatment options for the first time in their farming careers. Additionally, Plantix provides detailed advice on how to avoid crop loss and optimize the use of pesticides and fertilizers. By using Plantix, the company can make a significant impact on farmers' lives while collecting unprecedented insights on smallholder farming and disease spread. Peat GmbH (Progressive Environmental & Agricultural Technologies) is the company that developed Plantix, which utilizes deep learning technology.
The mission of Overstory is to tackle the climate crisis by leveraging AI and satellite data to provide instantaneous insights into the world's vegetation. Currently, Overstory delivers real-time data and predictive analytics to its forestry and utility clients utilizing high-resolution satellite data with superior temporal and spatial resolution.
Through the use of AI algorithms focused on trees and vegetation, Overstory aids its clients in forecasting risks related to growth and decay patterns based on factors such as species, growth rate, weather conditions, climate, and vitality. With Overstory's assistance in predictive planning, verification of trimming cycles, and timely reporting of vegetation management KPIs, clients can make informed decisions and take prompt action.
Pano AI
Pano Rapid Detect is an intelligent platform designed for fire experts that enables them to detect threats, validate fires, and share information with responders more rapidly than ever. Pano harnesses the power of deep learning AI and computer vision to automatically identify, verify, and categorize wildfire incidents in real-time. Additionally, Pano software facilitates the immediate viewing and prioritization of wildfire alerts, and incorporates communication tools to disseminate critical information to those in the field
Once a fire is authenticated, Pano supports fire monitoring professionals in rapidly transmitting real-time updates to their team. By including built-in alerts and mobile notifications, first responders have access to current time-lapse imagery and vital data concerning fire location and movement, thus granting them the ability to respond to wildfire events with greater precision and authority.
Check out some of the latest featured jobs below. If you don't see anything that speaks to you, you can always go to Climatebase to explore thousands of other opportunities.
"Resonant Link delivers 5x faster and highly-efficient wireless power for applications big to small, from massive industrial trucks to medical devices smaller than a fingernail. Resonant Link is anchored by offices in South Burlington, VT, Zurich, CH, and Boston, MA, and has amassed double-digit customers in healthcare, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics. With backing from top investors and government agencies, ..."
"Lasso helps the cattle sector decrease its emissions and farms receive the recognition and real dollars they deserve by doing so. ..."
"VSC Ventures is an early-stage fund focused on the three areas where we expect tremendous value creation over the next decade: Work, Wellness, and World-Saving (the 3 Dubs). Our investments include: Sesame Solar: The world's first 100% renewable mobile nanogrids Neuralight: AI driven platform to accelerate and improve drug development, monitoring, and care for patients with neuro disorders Paintjet : Painting tomorrow’s infrastructure ..."
"We are an early-stage technology company building software to streamline the regulatory challenges associated with upstream natural resources production in the US. We are focused on producers building and utilizing land-based assets powering the energy transition including carbon sequestration, geothermal, critical minerals, hydrogen, and RNG projects. ..."
Environmental Integrity Project
"The Environmental Integrity Project is a 501 (c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog organization that advocates for effective enforcement of environmental laws. Comprised of former EPA enforcement attorneys, public interest lawyers, analysts, investigators, and community organizers, EIP has three goals: To illustrate through objective facts and figures how the failure to enforce or implement environmental laws increases pollution and harms public health; To hold ..."
Pearl Street Technologies, Inc
"Pearl Street Technologies, Inc. is an early-stage startup developing next-generation software for the electric utility industry. Based in Pittsburgh, PA and backed by VoLo Earth Ventures, Pear Venture Capital, Powerhouse Ventures, and more, we’re building tools to decarbonize the grid. ..."
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
"C2ES is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to forge ambitious and practical solutions to climate change. Our mission is to secure and safe and stable climate by accelerating the transition to a thriving, just and resilient low-carbon economy. What sets C2ES apart is our combination of policy and analytical expertise, longstanding relationships with leading businesses, and reputation as a ..."
"Granular is a fast-growing climate tech startup developing a platform to help electricity consumers, producers and suppliers move towards 24/7 clean energy. Our SaaS platform gives our clients visibility over how electricity was produced on each hour using hourly energy certificates and allow them to trade clean energy with each other. You can find out more about the 24/7 energy ..."
"Established in 2005, Climate Interactive is rooted in the fields of system dynamics modeling and systems thinking. Through this lens, and in partnership with the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, we create and share tools that help people see connections and drive effective and equitable climate action. Climate Interactive hosts a team of system dynamics modelers who create user-friendly climate simulators—spanning topics ..."
"Watershed is the enterprise climate platform. Leading companies like Walmart, Stripe , Spotify, Klarna, and Twitter use Watershed's software to measure, reduce, and report their carbon emissions. With its state-of-the-art carbon data engine, in-house climate experts, and marketplace of high-quality decarbonization initiatives, Watershed provides audit-grade emissions data to power business value creation, regulatory compliance, and global climate impact. Watershed’s advisors ..."
They are hiring across the following departments:
"Currently is a weather service for the climate emergency. Our mission is to cultivate timely and accurate weather information that supports community resilience and safety. We work to illuminate possible paths toward a liberated, habitable and joyful future for people and the environment alike. In addition to daily weather newsletters in 20+ cities around the world, our original journalism focuses on ..."
"Rumin8 is tackling one of the biggest contributors to climate change: methane emissions from livestock. The digestive process of beef and dairy cattle accounts for a full 3.7% of all greenhouse gas emissions, a huge contribution from a single source. With billions of people around the world relying on animal proteins as part of their daily diet, eliminating livestock methane ..."
"The Wilderness Society is an American non-profit land conservation organization that is dedicated to protecting natural areas and federal public lands in the United States. They advocate for the designation of federal wilderness areas and other protective designations, such as for national monuments. ..."
"EV Realty develops, deploys and owns grid-scale charging infrastructure critical to electrifying commercial fleets in the U.S. We accelerate the adoption of large EV fleets by focusing on the fundamental constraint all electrified fleets face: low-cost, reliable and expandable access to grid-scale power. Today’s electrical grid is complex, constrained and rapidly evolving. It is also the backbone source of fuel that ..."
"BlocPower™ is a Brooklyn-based climate technology company rapidly greening American cities. Since its founding in 2014, the company has completed energy projects in 1,200+ buildings and delivers results ahead of schedule and under budget. BlocPower utilizes its proprietary software for analysis, leasing, project management, and monitoring of urban clean energy projects and its customers are saving 20-40% on their energy ..."
"Alga Biosciences is a fast-moving startup on a mission to transform the agricultural industry. Our goal is to eliminate methane produced by enteric fermentation. Methane is a small, energy-rich molecule with 86x the warming potential of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the next 20 years. Global livestock account for 14.5% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and cattle are ..."
"One Tree Planted is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on global reforestation. As an environmental charity, we are dedicated to making it easier for individuals and businesses to give back to the environment, create a healthier climate, protect biodiversity, and help reforestation efforts around the world. All by planting trees! ..."
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