2026可持续_AI_研究报告_全新绩效前沿_20页_13mb

Summary of "Sustainable AI is the new performance frontier"

Core Content

This document explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability, emphasizing the need for organizations to adopt a unified AI sustainability strategy. As AI adoption accelerates, it brings significant environmental and operational challenges, but also opportunities to drive climate action and improve efficiency. The report highlights that sustainable AI is not a side effect of technological progress, but a strategic risk that must be addressed proactively.

Main Points

• AI's Environmental Impact: AI is rapidly increasing energy and water usage, particularly in data centers, which are projected to see a tripling of AI workloads by 2027. This growth threatens to outpace available resources unless managed sustainably.

• Sustainable AI Definition: Sustainable AI involves designing and implementing AI solutions that are energy-efficient, reduce carbon emissions, and support a cleaner environment. It requires integrating environmental performance into AI architecture, governance, and partnerships.

• Green IT as a Foundation: Green IT is central to sustainable AI, aiming to make every stage of the technology lifecycle more sustainable through efficient software, clean infrastructure, smart hardware management, and circular practices.

• Corporate Leadership and Strategy: Leaders must recognize that AI sustainability is a strategic imperative, not a secondary concern. It aligns with financial and operational performance and strengthens trust with stakeholders.

• Partnerships and Policymakers: External partnerships, particularly with technology providers and policymakers, are critical for sustainable AI. Companies are increasingly evaluating partners based on sustainability values, and engaging with policymakers helps anticipate regulatory changes.

• Shared Accountability and Governance: Sustainable AI requires collaboration across departments, including finance, procurement, and R&D. Establishing AI sustainability governance or dedicated teams is becoming a top priority for many organizations.

Key Takeaways

• Partnerships: 9 in 10 respondents cite environmental sustainability as a key criterion for AI partner selection. Technology partnerships are becoming values-driven, reflecting a broader industry shift.

• Green IT Investments: 3 out of 4 respondents expect to increase Green IT investments in the next 2–3 years. These investments are anticipated to improve ROI, with 74% expecting better returns from sustainable digital infrastructure.

• Formal Strategy Adoption: As AI scales, the adoption of formal Green IT strategies nearly doubles—from 47% among early adopters to 93% among more advanced users. This shows a growing recognition of the importance of sustainable infrastructure in AI growth.

• Barriers to Integration: Financial constraints, unclear ownership, measurement gaps, and limited expertise are major barriers to embedding sustainability into AI strategies. Only 18% of companies have AI-specific sustainability goals, and most are still in the early stages of implementation.

• ROI and Sustainability: While 70% of companies report modest ROI (10% or less) from sustainable AI efforts, the long-term value includes reduced risk, regulatory readiness, and stronger brand resilience. AI is also being used to measure sustainability performance and optimize resource use.

AI's Role in Sustainability

• Current AI Usage: 26% of companies use AI to automate manual processes, 20% to generate insights, and 17% to improve sustainability performance. However, only 37% use AI to build sustainable supply chains, and 27% to identify and mitigate environmental risks.

• Maturity and Urgency: The more mature an organization's AI strategy, the more likely it is to use AI for sustainability measurement and reporting. Early adopters must act now to avoid future costs and emissions, as AI intensity continues to grow.

• Measurable Goals: Organizations need clear, measurable sustainability goals for AI itself. Currently, only 38% have such goals, but many are still in the development or integration phase, indicating a need for more structured and aligned approaches.

Conclusion

Sustainable AI is not just an ethical or environmental concern—it is a strategic necessity that can drive competitive advantage, reduce costs, and improve ROI. Organizations must embed sustainability into their AI strategies early, through coordinated action, clear metrics, and strong partnerships. The report underscores that sustainable AI is the path to efficiency, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.