AI and sustainability: Tech giants on the way to responsibility!

AI and sustainability: Tech giants on the way to responsibility!

An international group of researchers recently published a comprehensive study examining the strategies of major tech companies to link artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability. According to information from the University of Hohenheim Companies such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon and IBM appear in this study. These companies are using AI to address global challenges such as climate change and social injustice.

The study, which was carried out at the Department of Corporate Management at the University of Hohenheim as well as the Stuttgart Media University and the IÉSEG School of Management in Lille, analyzed 69 sustainability reports and relevant documents from these large tech companies. Almost 250 initiatives were identified that show how AI is used in practice to develop sustainable solutions.

Dimensions of sustainable AI

A central result of the study was the development of a strategic framework with three dimensions to align companies: “AI for sustainability”, “Sustainable AI” and “Ecological vs. social sustainability”. These aspects illustrate the different approaches of the companies.

• Google fokussiert sich auf soziale Nachhaltigkeit und entwickelt Initiativen wie das Tool „Know Your Data“, das soziale Verzerrungen in Datensätzen erkennen hilft.
• Microsoft hingegen setzt auf ökologische Ziele und betreibt Projekte wie „AI for Earth“, die ökologische Probleme adressieren.

This strategic shift towards long-term responsibility is reflected in the positive perception of companies by their customers. Smaller companies can learn from this framework to develop their own initiatives to improve sustainability. The study was published in the “Industrial Marketing Management Journal”.

Artificial intelligence as a key technology

Artificial intelligence is seen as a crucial tool for achieving global sustainability goals. AI's ability to optimize complex systems is particularly important in the areas of energy, resource management and education. Investing in AI is essential to drive sustainable innovation and solve problems such as decarbonization and effective water management, such as Tech zeitgeist notes.

An example of the use of AI is the collaboration between Microsoft and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which discovered a material with lower lithium requirements for batteries in 2024. In addition, AI technology will increase the transmission capacity of high-voltage power lines in New York by up to 60% in 2024.

The availability of high-quality data remains an important aspect. Microsoft therefore developed the AI ​​monitoring tool SPARROW to collect data even in remote regions. Another step to improve data availability is the development of Earth Copilot in collaboration with NASA, which aims to make satellite data more easily accessible.

Economic opportunities through AI

The economic impact of adopting AI and data technologies is enormous. PwC reports that these technologies could save up to 600 billion euros annually across industries. For example, a stainless steel manufacturer optimized its energy consumption by 10% using AI, which both reduced its environmental impact and led to a better bottom line.

Artificial intelligence also has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in emissions-intensive sectors such as energy and transportation. In the energy sector, data and AI are significantly increasing the performance of renewable energy sources, with the use of AI to analyze wind data, for example, able to increase energy production from wind farms by 20%.

Overall, the study shows that the responsible and strategic use of AI can bring not only ecological but also economic benefits. The path to more sustainable economic growth is possible if all actors – businesses, governments and civil society – work together.