"In a world where everything can be digitized, there's simply no excuse not to go green," asserts Yifei "Efay" Guo, a tech startup founder and chief technology officer behind China's first smart energy mobile application whose journey testifies to the relentless pursuit of a greener future using technology.
Cities play a crucial role in mitigating these impacts as the world grapples with the devastating effects of climate change, such as rising global temperatures, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather events. With urban areas accounting for significant global greenhouse gas emissions, implementing sustainable practices and technologies at the community level is paramount.
Understanding this, Guo responded to the call and created an intuitive net-zero-focused ChatGPT model to make sustainable living accessible and beneficial for the average consumer.
The Problem Guo Solves
Community-level net zero is about reaching a balance where the greenhouse gas emissions produced within a specific community or area are completely offset. Guo explains that this concept underscores the importance of collective action in tackling climate change, highlighting that individual efforts, while valuable, are not enough on their own. Communities are vital in leading the way toward sustainable practices and minimizing carbon footprints.
However, the complexity of implementing community-level net zero initiatives can be overwhelming for many individuals, as it requires the coordination of various stakeholders to align their efforts and make significant changes to infrastructure, energy systems, transportation, and daily habits. The technical aspects of measuring and tracking emissions, implementing renewable energy sources, and optimizing energy efficiency can also create a knowledge gap that hinders the widespread adoption of green solutions.
In this challenge, Guo sees the immense potential of technology to address the issue. As industries embrace digital transformation, he firmly believes that the energy sector can benefit from this shift.
Guo took the initiative to train the first net-zero-focused ChatGPT model in China using artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing. He then went a step further by transforming this cutting-edge model into a user-friendly mobile application that allows end users to interact with the system through intuitive voice and text interfaces.
"Why develop this?" Guo reflects, "Because the gap between technological advancement and sustainable living is not insurmountable. We have the tools and the knowledge. What we need is the will to apply them."
A Game-Changer in Achieving Net Zero Goals
Guo's work developing the net-zero-focused ChatGPT model and its accompanying mobile application bridges the gap between ambitious community-level sustainability goals and practical implementation. The model's uniqueness lies in its proprietary data, including information relevant to achieving net zero emissions, such as data on renewable energy sources, carbon footprint calculations, and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Guo, the model's focus on net zero goals suggests that it can generate responses based on a wide range of queries related to environmental sustainability, including how to reduce energy consumption, ways to offset carbon emissions, and information on renewable energy technologies.
Putting accessibility and user-friendliness as part of its goal, creating a mobile application for end users indicates that this technology is accessible to a broad audience through smartphones. The application offers voice and text interaction capabilities, allowing users to easily engage with the ChatGPT model by asking questions or inputting text related to net zero and receiving informative and actionable responses.
Guo adds, "This user-friendly interface is crucial for encouraging widespread adoption and engagement with the app, thereby promoting awareness and action towards achieving net zero emissions among the general public."
An Innovator Throughout the Years
Aside from his net-zero-focused ChatGPT model, Guo has consistently demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit and a knack for leveraging technology to develop platforms that challenge the status quo and solve real-world problems throughout his career.
In 2018, Guo's early venture, the SeeU app, exemplifies his ability to identify gaps in the market and create solutions that simplify complex processes. The app, which connected people instantly and facilitated local activities, streamlined the process of bringing communities together. It showcases Guo's talent for creating user-friendly platforms that enhance everyday experiences.
Similarly, Guo's independent development of a personal shopper named the BB Chatbot showcased his proficiency in leveraging AI and natural language processing to automate customer service and enhance the retail experience. By training the chatbot to learn from customer interactions, Guo demonstrated his commitment to creating solutions that continuously evolve and improve.
The full-stack software engineer's varied background, from being a founder to a solo developer and independent creator, has shaped him into the developer he is today. This unique blend of experiences enables him to skillfully balance the use of advanced technology with a focus on user experience and accessibility.
A Journey Far from Over
Despite the smart app's abilities, Guo acknowledges that the platform alone cannot address the complex sustainability challenges. He admits that the problem needs systemic change that involves the community's collective effort and cooperation.
"Our ultimate goal is to make sustainable living the default, not the exception," Guo concludes. "We want to empower individuals and communities to take control of their environmental impact and contribute to the global fight against climate change."
With the app now ready for market use, along with Guo's other initiatives—a knowledge database similar to Medium for global net zero projects, tools for visualizing energy and carbon data, a Net Zero residential app, a carbon market calculator, and more—Guo and his team are eager to tackle sustainability challenges using technology.
