How Satellites and AI Can Protect the Planet | Robbie Schingler | TED

On Valentine's Day 2022, On Valentine's Day 2022, a pontoon bridge appeared a pontoon bridge appeared a pontoon bridge appeared near the border of Belarus and Ukraine. near the border of Belarus and Ukraine. near the border of Belarus and Ukraine. One day, One day, One day, an empty river. an empty river. an empty river. And the next day, And the next day, And the next day, a bridge. a bridge. a bridge. I'm the co-founder of an earth imaging I'm the co-founder of an earth imaging I'm the co-founder of an earth imaging company. company. company. And with our satellites, we can see the And with our satellites, we can see the And with our satellites, we can see the entire world every day. entire world every day. entire world every day. And from space, we were able to detect And from space, we were able to detect And from space, we were able to detect that bridge, zoom in, and that picture that bridge, zoom in, and that picture that bridge, zoom in, and that picture was broadcast around the world the next was broadcast around the world the next was broadcast around the world the next morning. morning. morning. Everyone could see that something was Everyone could see that something was Everyone could see that something was changing. changing. changing. And then 10 days later, And then 10 days later, And then 10 days later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine. Thanks to satellite imagery, many Thanks to satellite imagery, many Thanks to satellite imagery, many governments and [snorts] NGOs, governments and [snorts] NGOs, governments and [snorts] NGOs, researchers, and journalists, researchers, and journalists, researchers, and journalists, they all had access to the same daily they all had access to the same daily they all had access to the same daily facts, facts, facts, the same baseline of reality, the same baseline of reality, the same baseline of reality, and the same possibility, and the same possibility, and the same possibility, at least in theory, of seeing clearly at least in theory, of seeing clearly at least in theory, of seeing clearly enough to respond together. enough to respond together. enough to respond together. And with that shared view of reality, And with that shared view of reality, And with that shared view of reality, we're no longer arguing if something is we're no longer arguing if something is we're no longer arguing if something is there, there, there, but deciding what to do because it is but deciding what to do because it is but deciding what to do because it is there.

there. there. In the days that followed that In the days that followed that In the days that followed that Valentine's Day bridge, Valentine's Day bridge, Valentine's Day bridge, Western nations coordinated for severe Western nations coordinated for severe Western nations coordinated for severe sanctions against Russia and unified in sanctions against Russia and unified in sanctions against Russia and unified in their support for Ukraine. their support for Ukraine. their support for Ukraine. But for months beforehand, we saw an But for months beforehand, we saw an But for months beforehand, we saw an increase of military activity and tanks increase of military activity and tanks increase of military activity and tanks amassing at the border. amassing at the border. amassing at the border. The signals were there. The signals were there. The signals were there. Perhaps the allies stopped the worst Perhaps the allies stopped the worst Perhaps the allies stopped the worst from happening, from happening, from happening, but they didn't stop the war. but they didn't stop the war. but they didn't stop the war. And I sat with that for a really long And I sat with that for a really long And I sat with that for a really long time. time. time. The satellites, they worked exactly as The satellites, they worked exactly as The satellites, they worked exactly as they were designed. they were designed. they were designed. They showed the emerging threat. They They showed the emerging threat. They They showed the emerging threat. They saw the threat. saw the threat. saw the threat. But the institutions that were supposed But the institutions that were supposed But the institutions that were supposed to respond, to respond, to respond, they weren't built for this. they weren't built for this. they weren't built for this. The alliances, the frameworks, the The alliances, the frameworks, the The alliances, the frameworks, the coordination mechanisms, they weren't coordination mechanisms, they weren't coordination mechanisms, they weren't built to handle signal at this speed or built to handle signal at this speed or built to handle signal at this speed or to incorporate this amount of to incorporate this amount of to incorporate this amount of information. information. information. And we built this extraordinary eye, And we built this extraordinary eye, And we built this extraordinary eye, an independent source of truth about an independent source of truth about an independent source of truth about what's happening on the planet.

what's happening on the planet. what's happening on the planet. But an eye that's not connected to a But an eye that's not connected to a But an eye that's not connected to a functional nervous system and a body functional nervous system and a body functional nervous system and a body capable of response, capable of response, capable of response, that eye is just a witness. that eye is just a witness. that eye is just a witness. But fortunately, new technologies are But fortunately, new technologies are But fortunately, new technologies are helping to close that gap. When you take helping to close that gap. When you take helping to close that gap. When you take all of this Earth data all of this Earth data all of this Earth data and pair it with the analytical power of and pair it with the analytical power of and pair it with the analytical power of AI, AI, AI, we can build extremely different things, we can build extremely different things, we can build extremely different things, action action action in an entirely new way. in an entirely new way. in an entirely new way. We're entering into an era that we call We're entering into an era that we call We're entering into an era that we call planetary intelligence, where new planetary intelligence, where new planetary intelligence, where new capabilities and action can happen at capabilities and action can happen at capabilities and action can happen at the speed of change. the speed of change. the speed of change. Now, my co-founder Will was on this spot Now, my co-founder Will was on this spot Now, my co-founder Will was on this spot in 2014 and he shared with you all our in 2014 and he shared with you all our in 2014 and he shared with you all our dream. dream. dream. What if we could image the whole world What if we could image the whole world What if we could image the whole world every day? every day? every day? And he came back in 2018 with a new And he came back in 2018 with a new And he came back in 2018 with a new dream. dream. dream. What if we can use AI to understand how What if we can use AI to understand how What if we can use AI to understand how the world is changing? the world is changing? the world is changing? And today, And today, And today, that vision is becoming a reality. that vision is becoming a reality. that vision is becoming a reality. And before I share that with you today, And before I share that with you today, And before I share that with you today, I want to provide a little bit of I want to provide a little bit of I want to provide a little bit of context.

context. context. The space sector is going through a The space sector is going through a The space sector is going through a renaissance right now. We have reusable renaissance right now. We have reusable renaissance right now. We have reusable rockets, thousands of satellites, rockets, thousands of satellites, rockets, thousands of satellites, and for the first time in over 50 years, and for the first time in over 50 years, and for the first time in over 50 years, we just sent humans to the moon and we just sent humans to the moon and we just sent humans to the moon and back. back. back. NASA is inspiring us once again with NASA is inspiring us once again with NASA is inspiring us once again with this picture to gain perspective that we this picture to gain perspective that we this picture to gain perspective that we live on this beautiful, precious live on this beautiful, precious live on this beautiful, precious spaceship Earth that we call home. spaceship Earth that we call home. spaceship Earth that we call home. And with the hundreds of satellites that And with the hundreds of satellites that And with the hundreds of satellites that are all monitoring the planet, they're are all monitoring the planet, they're are all monitoring the planet, they're getting connected to each other. And getting connected to each other. And getting connected to each other. And we're putting a lot more compute next to we're putting a lot more compute next to we're putting a lot more compute next to it. It's beginning to build a planetary it. It's beginning to build a planetary it. It's beginning to build a planetary nervous system. nervous system. nervous system. And on the ground, we're all in And on the ground, we're all in And on the ground, we're all in amazement as AI just continues to amazement as AI just continues to amazement as AI just continues to accelerate at rapid speed. accelerate at rapid speed. accelerate at rapid speed. And like many of you here, I'm holding And like many of you here, I'm holding And like many of you here, I'm holding on to that polarity between the sheer on to that polarity between the sheer on to that polarity between the sheer awesomeness of this technology awesomeness of this technology awesomeness of this technology and also a bit of anxiety about how this and also a bit of anxiety about how this and also a bit of anxiety about how this comes into the world in the right way. comes into the world in the right way. comes into the world in the right way. We have to get governance right. We have to get governance right. We have to get governance right. And we have to get alignment right.

And we have to get alignment right. And we have to get alignment right. For AI to work for everyone For AI to work for everyone For AI to work for everyone and the larger living world, and the larger living world, and the larger living world, we need it to speak the language of the we need it to speak the language of the we need it to speak the language of the planetary systems to which we're all planetary systems to which we're all planetary systems to which we're all embedded. embedded. embedded. It must understand our infrastructure It must understand our infrastructure It must understand our infrastructure and human activity, but also the impacts and human activity, but also the impacts and human activity, but also the impacts on the water, the trees, on the water, the trees, on the water, the trees, and the soil. and the soil. and the soil. So, let me show you what this looks So, let me show you what this looks So, let me show you what this looks like. like. like. So, when you combine all of this Earth So, when you combine all of this Earth So, when you combine all of this Earth data data data with AI and large language models, we with AI and large language models, we with AI and large language models, we are allowing for global change to happen are allowing for global change to happen are allowing for global change to happen in near real time. You can see change in in near real time. You can see change in in near real time. You can see change in just about everywhere over vast just about everywhere over vast just about everywhere over vast distances and time. distances and time. distances and time. It's helping to close that gap between It's helping to close that gap between It's helping to close that gap between awareness and action. awareness and action. awareness and action. A farmer can understand how healthy A farmer can understand how healthy A farmer can understand how healthy their soil is and ensure can create a their soil is and ensure can create a their soil is and ensure can create a dynamic and custom policy based on the dynamic and custom policy based on the dynamic and custom policy based on the real-time environmental risk of the real-time environmental risk of the real-time environmental risk of the asset. And a finance minister, they can asset. And a finance minister, they can asset. And a finance minister, they can account for the true cost of their account for the true cost of their account for the true cost of their financial economy along with their rich financial economy along with their rich financial economy along with their rich living natural ecosystems.

living natural ecosystems. living natural ecosystems. So, planetary intelligence So, planetary intelligence So, planetary intelligence guides our actions much in the same way guides our actions much in the same way guides our actions much in the same way that the eye connected to a nervous that the eye connected to a nervous that the eye connected to a nervous system guides the body system guides the body system guides the body so that humanity is no longer a witness so that humanity is no longer a witness so that humanity is no longer a witness to what's happening. We can become to what's happening. We can become to what's happening. We can become stewards for the planet and our society. stewards for the planet and our society. stewards for the planet and our society. And we're already seeing glimmers of And we're already seeing glimmers of And we're already seeing glimmers of planetary intelligence happening all planetary intelligence happening all planetary intelligence happening all over the world. over the world. over the world. It is already measuring global change in It is already measuring global change in It is already measuring global change in near real time, guiding human near real time, guiding human near real time, guiding human intervention where it's needed the most. intervention where it's needed the most. intervention where it's needed the most. So, let me show you a few examples. So, let me show you a few examples. So, let me show you a few examples. First, let's go to Brazil. The Brazilian First, let's go to Brazil. The Brazilian First, let's go to Brazil. The Brazilian Amazon is huge. It's 5 million square Amazon is huge. It's 5 million square Amazon is huge. It's 5 million square kilometers, roughly 2/3 the size of the kilometers, roughly 2/3 the size of the kilometers, roughly 2/3 the size of the United States. United States. United States. And it's brimming with rich And it's brimming with rich And it's brimming with rich biodiversity, countless indigenous biodiversity, countless indigenous biodiversity, countless indigenous communities, and it's the home of about communities, and it's the home of about communities, and it's the home of about 20% of the planet's fresh water supply. 20% of the planet's fresh water supply. 20% of the planet's fresh water supply. But, deep in the dense forest of the But, deep in the dense forest of the But, deep in the dense forest of the Amazon, there are illegal activities Amazon, there are illegal activities Amazon, there are illegal activities that are happening all of the time. that are happening all of the time. that are happening all of the time. Fields are cleared for illicit crops.

Fields are cleared for illicit crops. Fields are cleared for illicit crops. Runways are cut for narco traffickers. Runways are cut for narco traffickers. Runways are cut for narco traffickers. Riverbeds are illegally mined and Riverbeds are illegally mined and Riverbeds are illegally mined and poisoning downstream communities, and poisoning downstream communities, and poisoning downstream communities, and deforestation still happens every day. deforestation still happens every day. deforestation still happens every day. So, how do you stop that? So, how do you stop that? So, how do you stop that? You can't manually patrol that with You can't manually patrol that with You can't manually patrol that with boots on the ground and planes and boots on the ground and planes and boots on the ground and planes and paperwork. paperwork. paperwork. So, our team worked with local partners So, our team worked with local partners So, our team worked with local partners and the Brazilian Federal Police to and the Brazilian Federal Police to and the Brazilian Federal Police to create a system that monitors the entire create a system that monitors the entire create a system that monitors the entire Brazilian Amazon every day. Brazilian Amazon every day. Brazilian Amazon every day. And it looks for a signal of illegal And it looks for a signal of illegal And it looks for a signal of illegal activity. activity. activity. For instance, an unpermitted road. For instance, an unpermitted road. For instance, an unpermitted road. And today, over 100,000 people across And today, over 100,000 people across And today, over 100,000 people across the Brazilian government, from a ranger the Brazilian government, from a ranger the Brazilian government, from a ranger to a federal courts, they use this to a federal courts, they use this to a federal courts, they use this system. system. system. And over the last 3 years, they've And over the last 3 years, they've And over the last 3 years, they've seized $4 billion worth of illegal seized $4 billion worth of illegal seized $4 billion worth of illegal equipment in the Amazon. And most equipment in the Amazon. And most equipment in the Amazon. And most importantly, I think, over wherever this importantly, I think, over wherever this importantly, I think, over wherever this was deployed, was deployed, was deployed, deforestation rates decreased by over deforestation rates decreased by over deforestation rates decreased by over 50%. >> Now, let's see what this looks like at >> Now, let's see what this looks like at the speed of change.

the speed of change. the speed of change. Let's go to Kenya. Let's go to Kenya. Let's go to Kenya. A herder has kept A herder has kept A herder has kept his cattle on the same semi-arid land his cattle on the same semi-arid land his cattle on the same semi-arid land for generations. for generations. for generations. And livestock to pastoral families is And livestock to pastoral families is And livestock to pastoral families is not just their income, it's their not just their income, it's their not just their income, it's their savings, their insurance, the savings, their insurance, the savings, their insurance, the accumulated wealth of a lifetime. accumulated wealth of a lifetime. accumulated wealth of a lifetime. But every few years, the rains fail. But every few years, the rains fail. But every few years, the rains fail. And when they do, And when they do, And when they do, the grass dries up, the cattle weaken, the grass dries up, the cattle weaken, the grass dries up, the cattle weaken, and they start to die. and they start to die. and they start to die. So, one bad drought can wipe out the So, one bad drought can wipe out the So, one bad drought can wipe out the economic foundation of a family in a economic foundation of a family in a economic foundation of a family in a matter of weeks. matter of weeks. matter of weeks. But now, a new drought insurance program But now, a new drought insurance program But now, a new drought insurance program is coming together. is coming together. is coming together. The satellite is able to read the health The satellite is able to read the health The satellite is able to read the health of the grass. of the grass. of the grass. If that health falls below a critical If that health falls below a critical If that health falls below a critical threshold, an automatic payment is sent threshold, an automatic payment is sent threshold, an automatic payment is sent via mobile money to every pastoralist in via mobile money to every pastoralist in via mobile money to every pastoralist in the region affected, so that they can go the region affected, so that they can go the region affected, so that they can go and buy supplemental food for their and buy supplemental food for their and buy supplemental food for their animals. animals. animals. So, the herder doesn't need to So, the herder doesn't need to So, the herder doesn't need to understand satellite imagery. understand satellite imagery. understand satellite imagery. He doesn't even need to file a claim. He doesn't even need to file a claim. He doesn't even need to file a claim. Satellite reads the grass, a number Satellite reads the grass, a number Satellite reads the grass, a number crosses the line, money appears on his crosses the line, money appears on his crosses the line, money appears on his phone, he moves his herd, he buys phone, he moves his herd, he buys phone, he moves his herd, he buys supplemental food, and the crisis that supplemental food, and the crisis that supplemental food, and the crisis that would have unfolded would have unfolded would have unfolded doesn't.

doesn't. doesn't. Over a million and a half herders across Over a million and a half herders across Over a million and a half herders across the Horn of Africa are now protected the Horn of Africa are now protected the Horn of Africa are now protected with this drought insurance program. with this drought insurance program. with this drought insurance program. >> [applause] >> So, this is what it looks like when you >> So, this is what it looks like when you use a signal from space to guide human use a signal from space to guide human use a signal from space to guide human action action action in real time to changing events. in real time to changing events. in real time to changing events. The eye detects change, and the body The eye detects change, and the body The eye detects change, and the body moves to prevent harm. moves to prevent harm. moves to prevent harm. And I I think there's something deeper And I I think there's something deeper And I I think there's something deeper going on here. going on here. going on here. Planetary intelligence doesn't just Planetary intelligence doesn't just Planetary intelligence doesn't just change what we do, change what we do, change what we do, but it changes how we know the world but it changes how we know the world but it changes how we know the world and our place within it. and our place within it. and our place within it. It allows for us to see with the whole It allows for us to see with the whole It allows for us to see with the whole in mind, in mind, in mind, and dissolves the false separation and dissolves the false separation and dissolves the false separation between our culture and our society and between our culture and our society and between our culture and our society and that of the larger living planet. that of the larger living planet. that of the larger living planet. And we're living through a time right And we're living through a time right And we're living through a time right now where many of our institutions and now where many of our institutions and now where many of our institutions and our alliances are fracturing and falling our alliances are fracturing and falling our alliances are fracturing and falling apart. apart. apart. And this is extremely painful.

And this is extremely painful. And this is extremely painful. Because the problems that these Because the problems that these Because the problems that these institutions were built to address institutions were built to address institutions were built to address are only intensifying. are only intensifying. are only intensifying. But I believe that planetary But I believe that planetary But I believe that planetary intelligence intelligence intelligence can help us transform our institutions. can help us transform our institutions. can help us transform our institutions. Purpose-built for the speed and the Purpose-built for the speed and the Purpose-built for the speed and the complexity of the 21st century. complexity of the 21st century. complexity of the 21st century. We can all build new products and We can all build new products and We can all build new products and institutions institutions institutions that allow for us to see change in real that allow for us to see change in real that allow for us to see change in real time. And it can transform just about time. And it can transform just about time. And it can transform just about every sector of our society. every sector of our society. every sector of our society. From finance to infrastructure. From finance to infrastructure. From finance to infrastructure. Decision-making Decision-making Decision-making and and accountability mechanisms all at and and accountability mechanisms all at and and accountability mechanisms all at the speed of change the speed of change the speed of change in order for us to build a more in order for us to build a more in order for us to build a more resilient future. resilient future. resilient future. So that the next time So that the next time So that the next time tanks amassed at a border tanks amassed at a border tanks amassed at a border there will be no pontoon bridge. there will be no pontoon bridge. there will be no pontoon bridge. I started my career believing that I started my career believing that I started my career believing that information would save us. information would save us. information would save us. I now know that only coordination I now know that only coordination I now know that only coordination actually will. actually will. actually will. We gave the Earth eyes. We gave the Earth eyes. We gave the Earth eyes. We're connecting it to the brain.

We're connecting it to the brain. We're connecting it to the brain. But now But now But now now the only thing left to do is to now the only thing left to do is to now the only thing left to do is to build the body. build the body. build the body. The trust, the alliances, the The trust, the alliances, the The trust, the alliances, the institutions that is brave enough to institutions that is brave enough to institutions that is brave enough to move when the mind signals. move when the mind signals. move when the mind signals. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] [applause] >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much for watching Robbie's >> Thank you so much for watching Robbie's >> Thank you so much for watching Robbie's incredible TED Talk. I'm Dheera Sadarth, incredible TED Talk. I'm Dheera Sadarth, incredible TED Talk. I'm Dheera Sadarth, one of the guest curators for Robbie's one of the guest curators for Robbie's one of the guest curators for Robbie's session this year at TED 2026 along with session this year at TED 2026 along with session this year at TED 2026 along with the incredible Audrey Tang. Um and I the incredible Audrey Tang. Um and I the incredible Audrey Tang. Um and I think the reason we were so excited to think the reason we were so excited to think the reason we were so excited to share Robbie's work with the world is share Robbie's work with the world is share Robbie's work with the world is because we think it's a huge part of because we think it's a huge part of because we think it's a huge part of what the world needs what the world needs what the world needs to collectively govern and understand to collectively govern and understand to collectively govern and understand our future with AI. One of the reasons our future with AI. One of the reasons our future with AI. One of the reasons this is an important talk to have on this is an important talk to have on this is an important talk to have on stage now is stage now is stage now is information is power and the incredible information is power and the incredible information is power and the incredible thing that Planet has done is build an a thing that Planet has done is build an a thing that Planet has done is build an a very powerful information source and very powerful information source and very powerful information source and make it make it make it in as much as they can available to in as much as they can available to in as much as they can available to everyone. And so they not only create everyone. And so they not only create everyone. And so they not only create the information which lots of people do, the information which lots of people do, the information which lots of people do, but they actually let people benefit but they actually let people benefit but they actually let people benefit from it. And that's in the age of AI not from it. And that's in the age of AI not from it. And that's in the age of AI not always true.

always true. always true. >> When you see the Earth from the outer >> When you see the Earth from the outer >> When you see the Earth from the outer space, we become better people because space, we become better people because space, we become better people because we can then imagine that we're on this we can then imagine that we're on this we can then imagine that we're on this fragile spaceship and that really fragile spaceship and that really fragile spaceship and that really changed me to want to wage peace much changed me to want to wage peace much changed me to want to wage peace much more forcefully than we wage war.