How Al Gore used AI to track 660M polluters

Former Vice President Al Gore, through the nonprofit Climate Trace which he co-founded, has launched an AI-powered tool that tracks fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution from over 660 million sources globally. This initiative aims to provide precise, accessible data on pollution levels and sources, addressing a significant public health crisis linked to conventional air pollution. The project was inspired by Gore’s experience with communities in Memphis, Tennessee, affected by pollution from a nearby refinery and a crude oil pipeline, highlighting the need for transparent monitoring of pollutant plumes near populated areas. The tool, developed in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, uses AI to manage and visualize vast amounts of pollution data, making it possible to track emissions worldwide—something previously unimaginable without advanced technology. Scientific research has increasingly revealed the extensive health risks of PM2.5 exposure beyond lung cancer and heart disease, including strokes and other serious conditions causing hundreds of thousands of deaths annually in the U.S. Gore hopes that raising awareness of these health impacts,