Chemical Industry Collateral Researchers have questioned the link between pollution and health risks using artificial intelligence, urging concerns among scientists about bias and delayed regulations.
Dharna Noor reports the Guardian report.
in short:
Risk analyst and former Trump advisor Tony Cox is developing an AI tool that reviews epidemiological research funded by the American Council on Chemistry, which aims to distinguish between causality and correlations in pollution research. The Energy and Policy Institute reveals Cox’s close collaboration with industry groups, including Exxon and Chevron, and his repeated efforts to challenge scientific consensus through AI-generated “critical thinking.”
Important Quotes:
“Science’s negativity often sounds persuasive because it contains truthfulness to it or the elements of truth, or the elements of valid points, but it is often based on excessive robbery or omission, and does not portray the big picture.”
– Chris Frey, Associate Dean, North Carolina State University Faculty of Engineering
Why is this important:
The use of artificial intelligence to challenge the established link between pollution and health risks poses a threat to scientific integrity and public trust. When supported by industry groups with interest in circumventing regulations, such tools can serve as neutral evaluators and more as sophisticated vehicles for obfuscation. This tactic reflects historical efforts by the tobacco and fossil fuel industries to slow policy by casting doubt on scientific evidence. Undermining AI-mediated research at a time when exposure to air pollutants such as PM2.5 and synthetic chemicals such as PFA and PFOA is associated with chronic diseases can already result in inadequate public health protections.
Related:
