Accelerate Sustainability with AI
As the new AI economy unfolds, we are seeing leading organizations around the world harness the potential of AI to accelerate business resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. For example, business leaders are using AI to enable smarter resource use, optimize systems for efficiency, and foster innovations in carbon-free energy and conservation—advancing both productivity and prosperity.
Explore Actions and Innovations
The reason to choose AI for this work? It has three unique abilities that can help organizations overcome key bottlenecks. AI can: (1) measure, predict, and optimize complex systems, (2) accelerate the development of sustainability solutions, and (3) empower the sustainability workforce. These capabilities make AI a critical enabler of progress.
How Can Business Leaders Harness AI to Accelerate Resilience, Efficiency, and Sustainability in Their Organization?
I recently met with Lindsay Myers, Vice President, Commercial Cross Solutions at Microsoft, who leads our Commercial Sustainability business, to talk more about this guidance and how business leaders can harness AI to accelerate resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in their organizations.
Minimize Resource Use in AI Design and Operations
AI has its own energy and water demands, so it’s crucial to minimize resource use and move toward powering AI systems with carbon-free energy. In addition, since AI infrastructure is often concentrated in specific regions, it is essential to support the local communities where datacenters are located. At Microsoft, we’re innovating across three critical areas to continue to advance the sustainability of cloud and AI services:
- Optimizing datacenter energy, water, and waste efficiency while protecting ecosystems.
- Advancing low-carbon materials and creating global markets to promote industry-wide sustainability.
- Enhancing the energy efficiency of AI and cloud services.
Build Workforce Capacity to Use AI for Sustainability
For companies to be able to put AI’s three game-changing capabilities to work, they must have skills to use AI effectively. Microsoft has training programs focused on building AI fluency, supporting nonprofits, businesses, and governments in advancing workforce AI technical skills and promoting safe and responsible AI development.
Transform Business Using Generative AI
For business leaders wanting to put these plays in action and guide their organizations through effective AI adoption, we’ve published the 2025 AI Decision Brief: Insights from Microsoft and AI leaders on navigating the generative AI platform shift. This report is packed with perspectives from top Microsoft leaders and insights from AI innovators, along with stories of companies across industries that have transformed their businesses using generative AI.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. By harnessing the power of AI, businesses can unlock new possibilities, drive innovation, and create a more sustainable future. We believe that with the right tools, skills, and mindset, organizations can transform their operations and create a better future for all.
FAQs
Q: What are the three unique abilities of AI?
A: AI can measure, predict, and optimize complex systems, accelerate the development of sustainability solutions, and empower the sustainability workforce.
Q: How can businesses harness AI to accelerate resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in their organization?
A: Businesses can use AI to enable smarter resource use, optimize systems for efficiency, and foster innovations in carbon-free energy and conservation.
Q: What are some examples of AI innovation in sustainability?
A: Esri is helping cities unlock the power of digital twins driven by geospatial data and AI. Stadtwerke München (SWM) is using Microsoft Azure and Azure IoT to efficiently provide power to its public transport fleet of 100% electrified vehicles.
