Human exhaustion rises amid climate crisis and AI advancement

Human biology may be ill-equipped to handle the rapid acceleration of modern global challenges, including the climate crisis and the rise of artificial intelligence. These compounding issues, ranging from sudden natural disasters like floods in Nepal and wildfires in California to the existential speculation surrounding AI, are contributing to widespread exhaustion.

A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in early September indicates that 71.5 percent of adults reported feeling fatigued at least part of the time during the previous three months. This fatigue is defined as physical or mental exhaustion that does not improve with sleep. Natalie A.E. Young, the survey's lead author, noted that fatigue has become one of the most frequently reported health concerns in primary care consultations in the United States.