Robert Downey, Jr. Wants Earth Cleaned Up in Ten Years with Nanotech and Robots06.06.2019

Best known for playing Marvel’s Iron Man, the actor recently introduced the world to the Footprint Coalition, an organization established to protect the planet and the environment through the use of advanced, cutting edge tech. The initiative is slated to commence operations in April of 2020.  

Robert Downey, Jr. revealed his plans at Amazon’s re:MARS event where he appeared as a guest and keynote speaker and discussed AI, his career, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the character he’s best known for, Tony Stark. 

“Between robotics and nanotechnology, we could clean up the planet significantly, if not totally, in 10 years,” said Downey, Jr., drawing on experts he’s collaborating with. The keynote also featured a video teleconference appearance from Matt Damon, another movie star known for his activist efforts. 

Very little is known so far about the Footprint Coalition. Its website is empty save for a newsletter signup form. Downey, Jr., emphasized, however, that the project might be “the most important thing he had ever done.” He also added that he felt deeply troubled by the current state of the environment, and that AI developed seemed to him an important step toward solving  the current crisis using technological means. 

It’s not the first time that the two-time Academy Award nominee spoke out on matters related to AI and technology. Later this year, YouTube will be releasing the eight-episode Web series "AI", which Downey, Jr. produced with his wife Susan.