EY Fabernovel has just published “Harnessing AI, a manifesto for a sustainable planet.”

This new study, supported by Microsoft, not only highlights various cases and uses of AI that can contribute to planetary sustainability, but also serves as a call to action for all sectors of society (government, businesses, and citizens) to collaborate in amplifying the impact of these initiatives for the greater good.

While the business potential of AI is evident, the study challenges us to consider how AI could impact the common good. Can AI help the planet, or help us protect it?

The study explores AI’s potential in accelerating three key objectives: “shifting from urgent to opportune action,” “adapting to and mitigating change,” and “preserving and restoring,” based on the framework of the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report.

It adopts a “techno-realist” approach, acknowledging the resource debt associated with AI applications and the possible negative externalities of scaling up each use case. To effectively leverage AI for the planet, the study suggests three avenues:

• What organizational and cooperative models are needed to successfully place humans and the planet at the center of AI strategies for the common good? Could we move from the “B Corp” model to a “P Corp” model focused on the planet by 2030?
• How can we evolve the regulatory framework for AI?
• How can we standardize ESG data and consider it as digital commons?

Key Takeaways

The positive impact of AI on industries, businesses, and the broader economy has quickly moved from potential to real and significant in just a few months.

But while its business impact is now clear, we must also ask ourselves: Can AI help the planet or help us protect it?