2024
System Mapping on the Environmental Impacts of AI
Systems Thinking & Changemaking
Skills
Ethnographic Research, Design Research, Synthesis and System Mapping
Tools
Figma, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign
Goal
Apply a systems-lens to holistically investigate and understand a ‘wicked problem’ using a variety of research techniques to investigate a social issue of choice and the people and communties that are directly affected. Once the research phase is complete, synthesize the information into a series of diagrams to help others make sense of the systems that exist within the challenge.
Project Overview
For my chosen topic, I chose to investigate the unseen environmental impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI). I was tasked with completing a Research Dossier containing a positionality statement, literature review, subject matter expert interviews, and field work.
Using the research gathered in the dossier, I synthesized the information in the form of 4 complex diagrams illustrating the complex functions and connections within the explored systems. These diagrams outline the core problems of the issue, an actor map defining the key participants and their relationships to one another, a causal map illustrating relationships between elements which affect each other, and a rich context map defining long term trends and potential interventions.
The deliverables included a Research Dossier and Synthesis Diagram Package.
Process
Research Dossier
The purpose of completing the research dossier was to collect as much information as possible to gain a holistic and thorough understanding of the challenge. The information collected was coded and synthesized to find key themes and form insights.
To view the full research dossier, click here: Research Dossier
Literature Review
The literature review included the exploration of existing scholarship and literature including 14 peer reviewed articles, 2 reports, 1 non-scholarly article, and 1 policy document surrounding AI’s environmental impact. The images below display some of the summarized articles, key insights found in the literature review, and references.
Subject Matter Expert Interviews
I had conducted 2 SME interviews with Crystal Chokshi, an Assistant Professor at Mount Royal University and Nilushi Kumarasinghe, a Research Associate at Sustainability in the Digital Age & Future Earth. They had shared their knowledge on the topic of risks associated with AI growth and what this entails for the environment, society, and future policies. The image below displays some of the key insights I had gathered from our discussions.
Field Work
For the fieldwork portion of my research, I had collected data on my own AI exposure and its influences on my patterns and thought processes. This included data collection and reflective journals. The goal of my fieldwork is to explore how prevalent AI is in my daily life and gain a deeper understanding of how much I benefit from the convenience of AI and how it influences my own negative behaviour. The image below showcases the key insights gathered and coding legend used to analyze the data.
Synthesis Diagram Package
The goal of the diagrams was to help other people make sense of the challenge and systems that exist within it through creating system maps which act as visual descriptions of how a complex system functions. The research and maps are also created based on my own interpretation and understanding of the complex and the connections within the problem.
I created the following 4 diagrams:
Problem Snapshot: Communicates the core problems that exist within the challenge.
Actor Map: Defines a network of key participants in the system and their knowledge, power dynamics, values, incentives, mental models, and relationships.
Causal Map: Defines relationships between elements that affect each other, drawing out causal relationships. This map includes leverage points which identifies where interventions might have the greatest impact.
Rich Context Map: Defines the connections between long-term trends in the system, current practices, and the emerging innovations that may effectively address some of the challenges within. This map includes some of the potential solutions.
To see the full synthesis diagram package, click here: Synthesis Diagram Package
Causal Map Process
The images below display the development of 1 of the 4 maps produced—the causal map—which showcases the relationships between different elements within the system.
First, I laid out the nodes which reflect the information I gathered in my research dossier. The nodes are organized by the following key themes: environmental impact and resource usage, AI policy and educating Society, AI development and business practices, and influence on consumer action. After drawing some connections, the first draft was printed for in-class feedback.
After the feedback session, I drew more cause and effect connections and put them into clusters. Although the map became more comprehensive it was difficult to view and derive meaningful information.
Understanding the need for better entry points and clearly showing the relationships between the parts of this systematic challenge, I reorganized the nodes into smaller cyclical clusters that connected to each other. This allowed for easier reading of the system map.
Final Causal Map
The final causal map includes a more comprehensive legend, descriptions of leverage points (possibilities of intervention), and is meant to be more scannable with different points of entry and usage of clear and simple language.
Limitations
Considering the limitations of the project being completed within the semester and the work which was shaped by my positionality, further exploration of the topic and the complex systems within would uncover more details of the issue and opportunities for change. However in consideration of these limitations, the main goals of the synthesis diagram package were the following:
Goal 1: Clearly articulate the story of the system(s) affecting your challenge
Goal 2: Provide entry points for different types of viewers (ie. the 30-second vs. the 10-minute person)
Goal 3: Ensure that your diagrams feel human and personal, not detached
Goal 4: Use principles of visual design to create cohesive, usable, and visually appealing diagrams