Robert Downey Jr. is best known for his role as Marvel's Iron Man.
While he may met his fate in the Avengers: Endgame, but the actor wants to keep doing things that can be associated with his on-screen persona: the genius billionaire, and philanthropist Tony Stark.
And here, he has announced a collaborative effort to clean up the Earth using AI and robotics.
Speaking at Amazon’s re:MARS conference in Las Vegas, the actor said that he was inspired when he heard about some issues from scientists, and have been captivated by an expert’s proclamation who said that “between robotics and technology, we could probably clean up the planet significantly, if not entirely, within a decade.”
This is where he is forming an organization called 'Footprint Coalition', when launched in April 2020, aims to use robotics and nanotechnology to clean the planet significantly in the next 10 years.
His mission is also based from his own experience working for more than a decade with the Marvel Universe.
During that time frame, he saw his character, Tony Stark, transformed from a “soulless war profiteer to a man who was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the community.”
“I know it’s a kumbaya-type dream. It’s a logistical clusterf—,” he said. “I’m down with dedicating myself to maybe one small part of making good on that statement, even in abject failure, it’s still the best idea I’ve ever had.”
Downey Jr. here is following the footsteps of other fellow celebrities, like Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Matt Damon and Gisele Bündchen, who have all used their fame to help the environment.
The announcement came at the end of a 20-plus minute freewheeling talk about artificial intelligence, and also some emotional talks where Downey Jr. discussed the history of the Marvel Universe, his career, his role as Tony Stark, as well his troubled history with addiction.
Throughout his talk, Downey Jr. painted AI as a significant technological advancement that gave him hope, only to admit that he also found himself alarmed over the state of the environment posed by plastic proliferation, pollution and climate change.
"I have this quiet sense of crisis,” he said, "I’m a one-man carbon footprint nightmare colossus."
In front of an audience of AI experts, astronauts, and other tech authorities, the actor’s proclamation at the end of his speech was met with applause.
Downey Jr. is not an expert in this field, and he wasn’t pretending to be one.
But his hope is to use his skills as a celebrity, as a connector and influencer to help scientists overcome the bureaucratic hurdles needed to thrive.
Downey Jr. said that he is committed to the cause for next 11 years. The actor-director didn’t share any details on how the Footprint Coalition was going to achieve its goal, but said even making a small dent could be the most important thing he had ever done.
“I swear to God, and I’ll say this right here in front of everybody, I’m willing to spend the next 11 years making good on that statement, and I’ll repeat it: Between robotics and nanotechnology, we could probably clean up the planet significantly, if not entirely, within a decade,” said the 54-year-old actor.
Initially, a website for the group went live after Downey Jr. he left the stage, but only features little more than a newsletter sign-up form.
This isn’t the first time Downey Jr. has taken AI and other advanced technologies beyond his role as Tony Stark.
Together with his wife Susan Downey, Downey Jr., the couple have been producing a docu-series about AI for YouTube. The eight episode, hour-long series, which was first announced in 2018, is meant to explore AI and the impact it will have on people’s lives.