Technology cannot save us when mother earth decides our fate

ONE week seems a very long time to learn that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a redundant nonentity when it comes to dealing with the wrath of nature in real time.

- BY SURYA VISHWA

When our brick world collapses

Last Saturday, keeping to journalistic impartiality, we ran an interview about the positive aspects of AI. It quite ironically coincided with the mountains collapsing on our heads, the land opening beneath our feet, swallowing us up and the skies spiralling in torrents washing away houses and vehicles as if they were toys. Beginning last Thursday and till around Monday Sri Lanka faced its worst natural disaster in decades with hilly areas such as Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Badulla amongst the worst affected. Experts warn that the worst may not be over and that the landslide threat still hangs heavy in the central province region. Thousands are rendered homeless and live in temples and schools.

This is not the first time in Sri Lanka we humans were turned into playthings in the hands of nature which we have abused in a myriad ways, using our so called superior knowledge primarily for its ruin.

We cannot forget the shock when the seas we have clogged with plastic and poison drowned us.