Environmental Challenges in the Era of Artificial Intelligence Use in Schools in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Gabon

Abstract

This article explores the links between AI, education, and the environment in Gabon, a country undergoing a digital transition and facing the challenges of biodiversity conservation. It demonstrates that AI, such as ChatGPT, is revolutionizing education by making knowledge more accessible and improving student learning. The article analyzes the social, cultural, and educational aspects of AI using the approaches of Thierry Gaudin's ethnotechnology (2013), Patrice Flichy's sociology of innovation (2003), and Darin Barney's critical approach to digital technologies (2016). The findings show that AI fosters connections between scientific and traditional knowledge in environmental education. The article highlights the role of AI in raising students' awareness of the importance of protecting national parks and biodiversity in Gabon. Digital tools promote understanding of environmental threats and digital eco-citizenship. Furthermore, the study analyzes the use of ChatGPT in the study of human-panther conflict in Gabon. AI helps learners compare scientific knowledge and cultural representations to better understand the challenges of wildlife conservation and the environmental causes of conflict. Finally, the article highlights the ethical challenges of AI in the Woleu-Ntem province and emphasizes the need to promote ethics education to combat misinformation and plagiarism. Observing these technologies in pedagogy in Gabon encourages responsible digital citizenship and the preservation of biodiversity, under an educational governance that values both scientific and traditional knowledge.