Mizan Al-Taqa: Scales of Energy by Rania Abadi

A fragment of resilience: technology and tradition fused in a model of cooperative energy.

What if the 'green' revolution was built on algorithms that reinforced inequality?

Mizan Al-Taqa: Scales of Energy: A speculative design project that critiques the ethical implications of AI-driven 'ethical' investment within the renewable energy sector, revealing potential inequalities masked by algorithmic complexity.

Abadi_5743, Palestine State

Description

This project materializes a future where AI-powered investment tools streamline renewable energy transitions. Drawing from traditional Palestinian design and the narratives of resilience, this work uses architectural metaphors to analyze potential socio-economic disparities created by these very algorithms. While such systems promise ecological and economic growth, the project examines the real-world implications if these tools are left unchecked. The speculation questions whether an energy system can be truly classified as sustainable, and the criteria required, if the financial means to transition towards renewable power are not equally distributed.

Context

The world is marked by rapid technological advancement and intensified climate impacts. Inhabitants dwell in densely populated urban centers surrounded by large-scale renewable energy installations. The culture is a blend of technological optimism and simmering social unrest, driven by economic disparities. The rise of 'ethical' AI has created a veneer of fairness, masking deeper systemic biases against vulnerable populations. Historical struggles for resource sovereignty echo in contemporary conflicts over access to AI technologies, prompting a growing movement for truly transparent, equitable, and community-driven alternatives.

Provocation

This project calls for critical awareness of hidden power dynamics within emerging technologies. Today there is growing enthusiasm for AI, but this project forces consideration for inherent biases. Ask not just how AI can be *used*, but how its inherent inequalities can be *addressed* for a truly just transition.

Abadi_5743's process

Abadi draws inspiration from architectural forms and historical narratives, embedding Palestinian motifs into the work. The cultural influence of 'Sumud'—steadfastness—plays a significant role, prompting an examination of power dynamics in technology. For this project Abadi applies computational modeling simulates energy flows within biased investment algorithms. Architectural models emerge, exposing hidden inequalities within these seemingly neutral systems. The resulting narratives, visual and textual, expose how apparently 'ethical' AI tools can perpetuate, rather than resolve, issues of economic injustice, uniquely combining technical insight with deep social critique rooted in Palestinian design.

More about Abadi_5743

Events leading to ‘Mizan Al-Taqa: Scales of Energy’

2024: AI investment platforms gain traction, promising ethical and sustainable investment options.

2025: Initial reports surface of AI-driven investment algorithms showing biases favoring wealthier investors.

2026: Increased adoption of AI-powered energy management systems leads to rapid growth in renewable energy investments.

2027: Independent audits of AI ethical tools reveal hidden inequalities.

2028: Communities begin advocating for transparent and community-controlled renewable energy solutions.

Imagined Future Scenarios Considered

Abadi_5743 considered the following imagined future scenarios while working on this project

AI assistance democratizes complex investment strategies, but an unregulated market exposes vulnerable individuals to high-risk schemes crafted to appear ethical.

Extrapolated from Beyond The Illusion - The Real Threat Of AI: WEF Global Risks Report 2025 - Forbes

Highly accurate AI simulations revolutionize energy storage allowing integration of renewable power at all times.

Extrapolated from Why CEO Matt Garman is willing to bet AWS on AI - The Verge

Self-assembling emergency shelters, triggered by rainfall, are deployed in disaster zones improving survival rates.

Extrapolated from This 4D-Printed Bio-inspired Smart Shade Moves on Its Own Without Electricity - Yanko Design

Educational platforms use AI to personalize learning, but algorithms inadvertently reinforce societal biases, steering students towards traditional career paths based on gender or socioeconomic status.

Extrapolated from Beyond The Illusion - The Real Threat Of AI: WEF Global Risks Report 2025 - Forbes

A global regulatory body enforces ethical standards for AI, impacting international trade and technology development.

Extrapolated from Ethical Efficiency: Balancing Productivity And Responsibility - Forbes

Modular hydrogen fuel cell systems allow for easy swapping and upgrades in eVTOLs, extending lifespan and improving performance.

Extrapolated from Skai’s A New Kind of Flying Machine - Yanko Design

Autonomous vehicles cause an accident, raising complex questions of liability and accountability, leading to the development of AI ethics boards to oversee algorithmic decision-making.

Extrapolated from AppSOC 2025 Predictions: 2024 Saw AI Expansion, Will 2025 See AI Application Security? - Vmblog.com

AI-powered systems are used to identify and counter misinformation, but can create echo chambers where users are only exposed to information confirming their existing beliefs.

Extrapolated from Beyond The Illusion - The Real Threat Of AI: WEF Global Risks Report 2025 - Forbes

Hypothetical Product Ideas Considered

Abadi_5743 considered the following hypothetical product ideas while working on this project

H2-Track Transparency Platform

A blockchain-based system for tracking the environmental impact of hydrogen production. Provides detailed data on the carbon footprint, water usage, and land use associated with each unit of hydrogen, allowing consumers and regulators to make informed choices and encourage sustainable practices from hydrogen producers.

Raw Material Futures Exchange

A platform to trade futures contracts for critical minerals used in energy storage (lithium, cobalt, etc.) ensuring supply chain transparency and mitigating price volatility driven by increased demand. A publicly accessible, price-discovery mechanism for raw materials.

AI Ethics Insurance

A new form of insurance that provides coverage for individuals and businesses harmed by algorithmic bias or errors in autonomous systems. It quickly compensates victims while independent auditors investigate the AI's decision-making process, providing crucial support in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

AirShare Equity Pods

A fractional ownership model for eVTOLs targeting underserved communities. Allows individuals to purchase shares in eVTOLs used for community transport, cargo delivery, and emergency services, addressing the social stratification issues. This includes built-in training programs for piloting and maintenance.

Shelter Debris Remediation Drones (SDR Drones)

Autonomous drone swarms equipped with AI-powered debris sorting and recycling systems. These drones break down damaged shelters into reusable materials for new construction, mitigating waste and resource depletion in disaster zones.

Algorithmic Transparency Ratings

A service that provides a 'trust score' for AI investment platforms, derived from analyzing the algorithms' transparency, data usage, and potential biases. This score is publicly available and crowdsourced, incentivizing platforms to be more ethical and transparent in their algorithms.

Algorithmic Affinity Brokerage for Enhanced Personalization

This service refines the echo chamber by creating tailored digital environments that cater to users' specific interests and beliefs. It recommends increasingly niche platforms, content creators, and online communities to deepen existing affiliations and provide a sense of hyper-personalized validation.

Algorithmic Redlining Detector

A browser extension and public API that detects and flags instances of algorithmic redlining and discriminatory pricing practices in autonomous vehicle services. This tool empowers users to identify and report unfair practices, fostering greater transparency and accountability in the AI-driven transportation sector.

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