Salesforce News’ Post

Does AI Have a Sustainability Dilemma? Salesforce Research Shows Optimism Despite AI Energy Demands A recent survey of nearly 500 sustainability professionals has unveiled a nuanced perspective on the role of AI in sustainability efforts. Despite concerns about AI’s potential negative impacts, most express optimism about balancing these effects with AI’s benefits. Salesforce conducted the survey with YouGov between June 5-10, 2024. It included sustainability professionals from companies of varied sizes and sectors from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Explore more: https://lnkd.in/dTwxFXSK #sustainability #ai #energy #salesforce #survey

Sustainability Gets Smart: How AI is Revolutionizing Eco-Decision Making It seems the robots are no longer just after our jobs, they're after our carbon footprint too! Microsoft's Sustainability Manager, armed with the power of generative AI, is turning environmental warriors into data wizards. Imagine a world where AI predicts the environmental impact of your next business decision, or helps you suss out a supplier's green credentials with the ease of asking a friend. With features like "what-if analysis" and document analysis powered by Copilot, reducing your environmental impact is no longer a guessing game, but a data-driven waltz towards a more sustainable future. Take control of your impact. Visit Microsoft's Sustainability Manager website today and see how AI can propel your organization towards a sustainable tomorrow. #AIforGood #SustainableAI #GreenTech #ESGTech #ClimateAction #SustainabilityInnovation #ESGData #CarbonFootprint #SustainabilityReporting #SupplyChainSustainability

Here's an insightful read on AI and sustainability. AI plays a crucial role in boosting corporate sustainability efforts by providing accurate reports and supporting the growth of smart cities, renewable energy systems, and circular economies. Sustainability reports, utilizing frameworks like ESG and SDG, are vital for organizations. Major rating agencies ensure that most S&P 500 companies disclose sustainability reports. While AI presents numerous advantages, it also brings challenges such as increased energy consumption, carbon footprint, and potential economic disparities. Strategic actions are crucial for corporates, governments, and individuals to leverage AI effectively for sustainable economic progress while safeguarding the planet's well-being. https://lnkd.in/ej_MBCuX #AI #Sustainability #CorporateResponsibility #ESG #SDG #SustainableDevelopment #SmartCities #RenewableEnergy #CircularEconomy #SustainabilityReports

Within DP World's sustainability endeavours, I've been deeply immersed in the intersection of technology and environmental consciousness, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). The discourse around responsible and sustainable AI is not just timely but imperative in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, especially as AI continues to grow and is poised for even greater expansion in 2024. This article aptly highlights four crucial paths that companies can take to ensure their AI initiatives align with environmental goals while driving innovation. Efficiency emerges as a central theme, urging companies to adopt specialised AI models tailored to specific use cases rather than opting for resource-intensive, general-purpose models. This approach not only minimises energy consumption but also fosters a culture of innovation by leveraging the vast potential of open-source resources. By using less data, we can better optimise AI algorithms for reduced computational overhead while still maintaining performance and achieving results. The integration of renewable energy sources into AI infrastructure represents a significant step forward in mitigating the environmental impact of AI operations. By hosting AI functions in data centers powered by renewable energy, companies can significantly reduce their carbon footprint while driving sustainable growth. However, as highlighted in the article, challenges such as tracking energy consumption and fostering transparency remain paramount. As we navigate these challenges, it's crucial to prioritise ethical considerations and long-term sustainability in AI development. For us at DP World, as we look to tap into the potential of AI, we take into consideration these sustainable approaches to ensure that our technological advancements align with our environmental objectives and foster a greener future. A concrete example is our multi-programme software suite, CARGOES, which is an AI-driven solution automating every terminal process, from staff rostering to streamlining customs inspections—an infamously arduous process. With AI managing the basics, our Jafza teams can focus on upskilling and handling specialist shipments, thereby expanding our capabilities beyond mere throughput increase. Through the integration of AI technologies like CARGOES into our operations, we not only enhance efficiency and productivity but also reduce our environmental footprint by optimising processes and resource usage. By embracing responsible AI practices and leveraging technology as a catalyst for positive change, we can create a more sustainable future where innovation and societal well-being go hand in hand. https://lnkd.in/dugjCDMq 

Did you know? A recent survey found 65% of #sustainability professionals think we need to balance #AI's benefits with its environmental costs. The research shows optimism despite AI energy demands and unpacks how sustainability professionals are using AI. Key highlights include: ⚡ While almost 4 in 10 worry about AI’s potential negative impacts on sustainability efforts at their organization, even more (57%) are optimistic that they can balance the negative impact with AI’s benefits. ☑ Nearly half of sustainability professionals have begun using or experimenting with AI in their sustainability programs, and 65% of sustainability professionals using AI say it's transformed their team’s sustainability programs. 🌳 The AI and sustainability knowledge gap is the #1 limitation and #1 priority for sustainability teams. More on Salesforce's Sustainable AI efforts: https://lnkd.in/gDQfXiVx #innovation #climateaction #ESG https://lnkd.in/dpZbi73t

Diving deeper into AI's potential in managing business sustainability, I had some insightful conversations yesterday. One was with Alex Rotenberg from Kinaxis, who highlighted how their platform can help tackling sustainability. Businesses now leverage advanced planning solutions to optimize costs, cash flow, and customer service. What's impressive is Kinaxis’s capability to simultaneously assess impacts like waste, carbon emissions, and compliance issues. Their AI-driven platform can help estimate, project, and simulate CO2e, comparing emissions across scenarios to minimize environmental impact. How cool is this? Another great chat was with Ruven Klunk from GRYN Network. Reflecting on my time leading Unilever's Sustainability in Logistics program, we manually collected data to calculate carbon emissions from our logistics network and then applied GLEC framework to calculate the impact. It was tedious and time-consuming. Gryn’s solution now automates this process, linking shippers, suppliers, and carriers to provide actionable insights and recommendations. This solution is a huge help in making informed decisions and negotiating tenders! The two examples above, brought to life the report I recently read as a part of my current studies: “How AI can enable a sustainable future” conducted by Microsoft and PWC which highlights significant potential of artificial intelligence to accelerate progress towards sustainability. Key takeaways include: 𝟏.   𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: AI applications across various sectors, such as agriculture, water, energy, and transport, can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4% by 2030. 𝟐.   𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: These AI-driven initiatives could contribute up to $5.2 trillion to the global economy, showcasing the dual benefit of economic growth and environmental preservation. 𝟑.   𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫-𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬: 𝐴𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒: AI can optimize farming practices, reduce waste, and enhance crop yields. 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡: AI can improve water distribution efficiency and monitor usage to prevent waste. 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦: AI enables better energy management and integration of renewable sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡: AI can enhance logistics and traffic management, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. 4.   𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The report stresses the importance of collaboration between businesses, governments, and tech developers to realize AI's full potential in creating a sustainable future. AI is rapidly becoming not just a technological advancement but a critical tool offering both environmental and economic benefits. Sharing these insights to inspire others leaders to look into technologies out there which potentially can help moving businesses from “traditional model” to “sustainable business model”. The full report is here:

Sustainability and AI

AI’s three game-changing abilities On the journey to net zero, the world has faced many bottlenecks to progress. AI has three unique abilities that can help society overcome key bottlenecks to this progress. These include the ability to: 1) Measure, predict, and optimize complex systems. 2) Accelerate the development of sustainability solutions. 3) Empower the sustainability workforce.

Innovating Sustainability Reporting: ESGgo's AI-Powered Solution #AI #AIpowered #artificialintelligence #CEO #Climate #diversereportingneeds #emissionscalculations #ESGgo #llm #machinelearning #OneClickSustainabilityReport #OrlyGlick #Regulatoryframeworks #reporttemplates #stakeholderrequirements #sustainabilityreporting

Microsoft recently published an AI playbook to accelerate sustainability. The playbook outlines how AI can be used to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices. It provides practical guidance and real-world examples of how organizations can leverage AI to reduce their carbon footprint, conserve resources, and promote a more sustainable future. This is quite an exciting development in the field of sustainability and demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to using technology for the greater good.