UNESCO Global Geoparks vs. Generative AI: Challenges for Best Practices in Sustainability and Education

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most controversial tools of recent times. Offering an extremely simple operating system, users can generate texts, images, videos and even human voices. The possibility of using such a powerful tool creates new paths and challenges in the field of environmental education: How does it influence natural heritage protection? Is it considered positive within sustainability and quality education? The reality is very different, showing algorithms trained with information of dubious quality and, on many occasions, obtained without permission from authors and artists around the world. UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) are international references in education at all levels, related to territorial development and geoscience education. This article discusses if generative AI is, nowadays, an effective and applicable educational tool for the strategies developed and promoted by UGGps. This designation exists for people’s opportunities. The use of these tools in their current state could make the UGGp figure change its values and fundamental pillars in the future.