which geological period are we currently in?

Gemini

We are currently in the Quaternary Period.

More specifically, within the Quaternary Period, we are in the Holocene Epoch, which began approximately 11,700 years ago. The most recent age of the Holocene is the Meghalayan Age, which started about 4,200 years ago.

There's also ongoing scientific discussion about whether human activity has impacted the Earth enough to warrant the recognition of a new epoch called the Anthropocene. While the concept is widely used, it has not yet been formally adopted by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).

ChatGPT

Geologically speaking, we currently live in:

• Eon: Phanerozoic — the current eon (from \~538.8 million years ago to the present) (EarthyMe + EarthyUniversity, Wikipedia)
• Era: Cenozoic — the latest era, covering roughly the past 66 million years (Wikipedia, USGS)
• Period: Quaternary — the most recent period within the Cenozoic, spanning from about 2.58 million years ago to today (Wikipedia)
• Epoch: Holocene — our current epoch, which began approximately 11,700 years ago (Wikipedia)
• Age (most recent subdivision): Meghalayan Age — officially recognized since 2018, starting around 4,200 years ago following a global drought event (Wikipedia)

Summary Table

There is also the widely discussed concept of the Anthropocene, proposed to mark a new epoch reflecting major human impacts—like nuclear fallout, plastic pollution, and technofossils. However, it is not officially recognized by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) or the International Commission on Stratigraphy as of mid‑2025 (geosociety.org, Wikipedia, The New Yorker, Wikipedia).

So, our formally accepted geological framework places us in the Quaternary period, Holocene epoch, and specifically the Meghalayan age.

Would you like to explore more about how those divisions are defined—especially the Meghalayan—or dive into the Anthropocene debate next?

perplexity

We are currently in the Quaternary period of the geological time scale1 3. More specifically, within this period, we are in the Holocene epoch, and within the Holocene, in the Meghalayan age3 8.

• Eon: Phanerozoic
• Era: Cenozoic
• Period: Quaternary
• Epoch: Holocene
• Age: Meghalayan

There is also discussion about naming the present time the "Anthropocene" due to the significant impact humans have had on Earth's systems, but this term has not yet been officially recognized as a formal geological epoch.

To summarize, geologically, the current period is the Quaternary.

1. What era do we live in? The geologic time scale explained
2. Phanerozoic
3. Cenozoic
4. Cenozoic | U.S. Geological Survey - USGS.gov
5. Quaternary
6. Holocene - Wikipedia
7. Meghalayan
8. [PDF] Geologic Time Scale v. 6.0

Using Ollama - which named this query "In Crisis, Where Art Thou?"

tinyllama:latest

Currently, you are not in any specific geological period. Geologic time is divided into different periods based on the fossil record and other evidence. The current period of geological time is known as the Paleozoic Era (~250-542 million years ago), which began at the end of the Devonian period and ended during the Triassic period, some 251 to 206 million years ago. However, since there are no fossils from those times, it is difficult to accurately determine the precise start or end of any particular geological period.

gemma2:2b

We are currently in the Quaternary Period, also known as the Ice Age!

Here's why:

• Definition: The Quaternary is a geological period characterized by ice ages, glacial periods, and interglacial periods. It began about 2.6 million years ago and continues today.
• Why it matters: This period is marked by dramatic climate change, with rising and falling temperatures, and the formation of massive ice sheets across the Northern Hemisphere (and Antarctica).

Let me know if you'd like to learn more about this fascinating period!

gemma3:4b

This is a tricky question! Geologically speaking, we’re currently in the Anthropocene Epoch.

Here’s the breakdown:

• The Holocene Epoch: This is the current epoch within the Quaternary Period. It began about 11,700 years ago after the last major glacial period ended. This is the period we’re living in now.

• The Anthropocene Proposal: However, there's a growing movement to formally recognize a new geological epoch called the Anthropocene. This would start with the significant impact of human activity on the planet – things like industrialization, agriculture, and the release of greenhouse gasses. Scientists are still debating whether it’s officially recognized yet, but the evidence strongly suggests we’ve entered a period profoundly shaped by humanity.

So, to answer your question directly: While we’re technically in the Holocene, many geologists consider us to be in the early stages of the Anthropocene.

Would you like to explore more about either the Holocene or the proposed Anthropocene?

huihui_ai/gemma3-abliterated:4b

Excellent question! And this time it'! We're currently in the Holocene Epoch!

The Holocene is the most recent epoch in the Quaternary Period. It began about 11,700 years ago after the last glacial maximum – which means the ice sheets that covered much of the Earth during the last ice age started to melt.

So, a little more recent than the last Ice Age!

Do you want to learn more about the last ice age, or perhaps the geological time scale itself?