IBM: How will AI Impact Sustainability in 2025?
It’s fair to say artificial intelligence (AI) has been at the top of everyone's mind in 2025, in part for its sustainability impacts.
From sorting through data in seconds to making predictions, it can be a really useful tool.
However, AI comes with some significant sustainability drawbacks in its current state.
AI systems and the data centres behind them use vast amounts of power which has led to an increase in emissions for some companies and by 2027, AI models could use nearly seven billion cubic metres of water.
To combat this, companies must look to balance AI’s sustainability benefits carefully with its resource use and apply careful governance to avoid exacerbating social issues.
Meet IBM’s sustainability software expert
Kendra DeKeyrel is a Vice President in IBM’s Sustainability Software division, focused on ESG and Asset Management.
She has 25 years of experience in enterprise software product management, specialising in solutions that drive efficiency, reduce environmental impact and create lasting value for organisations around the globe.
Kendra deeply understands how technology like AI and IoT help organisations solve critical business problems and deliver greater value and insights.
She also describes herself as a “proud mother, home designer and technology enthusiast”.
Kendra shared her expertise with Sustainability Magazine.
How is AI being used for sustainability in organisations?
AI is a versatile tool for sustainability. Everyone from manufacturers to utilities to public agencies can use it to boost efficiency and minimise environmental impact.
One common usage is leveraging AI to more meticulously manage emissions. Companies can harness the technology to parse data and carefully measure their operational greenhouse gas emissions. They can then use the detailed learnings to run data models that help identify next steps needed to reduce emissions and support their sustainability goals.
Organisations are also leveraging computer vision. This branch of AI allows businesses to automate and scale visual inspections of their facilities and products and, as a result, diminish wasteful downtime and defects. IBM worked with Ford Motor Company to leverage AI-powered computer vision on their factory floors.
How do you think this will change in 2025?
Businesses are facing mounting compliance measures around sustainability in addition to heightened scrutiny from consumers.
Meanwhile, AI adoption is becoming more cost-effective due to energy-efficient processors and open-source models. For these reasons, expect to see more companies and a wider diversity of sectors leveraging features such as computer vision, machine learning and other forms of AI in 2025.
We'll also see more businesses leveraging generative AI.
By automating routine processes like work orders, businesses can make these processes quicker, smoother and less energy intensive.
What should organisations look to do with technology in 2025 for sustainability?
Companies should couple AI with automation technologies for an outsized sustainability impact.
AI-powered automation capabilities like observability, resource management and application lifecycle management can help them better manage resource usage of their applications.
They can also improve the performance and lifecycle of their physical assets.
This technology builds more efficient operations (often across multiple locations), leads to clear business value through cost optimisation, and progresses sustainability goals overall.
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