AI could help companies achieve their sustainability goals, but some big questions still remain
New research shows that three-quarters (76%) of business and government leaders believe AI will play a key role in helping them make progress towards their sustainability goals.
An HP survey of more than 1,000 business leaders from 10 countries found that the same percentage of leaders view technology as critical to engaging traditionally excluded populations in the economy.
More than four in five say they also plan to use AI to increase access to digital education (90%), workforce development (89%) and workforce diversity (86%), which will underlines broader transformative benefits of the technology.
AI can have social and economic benefits
Nancy Powell, HP’s UK&I Sustainability Lead, emphasized the importance of providing digital tools and skills to disadvantaged communities: “Everyone deserves a chance to access tools and skills that can help them thrive in the digital economy.”
Despite artificial intelligence’s potential to impact companies’ progress toward their ESG goals, HP noted that the lack of workforce readiness and the global skills shortage could hold companies back from making expected progress.
HP isn’t the only entity recognizing the transformative potential of AI. US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm recently suggested that AI could help unlock more powerful insights to ultimately improve technological efficiency.
The data centers with AI servers have been criticized in recent months for their intensive energy consumption and use of other natural resources, such as water. Although major technology companies have committed to expanding green energy generation with, for example, solar and wind farms, more efforts are needed.
The power of artificial intelligence to help achieve important goals is undeniable, but the more recent revelation that AI could be used to address some of its own drawbacks offers an exciting glimmer of hope.