"We need to be an AI-enabled company." Replace the "AI" with any technology from history and this comment becomes a common refrain across businesses lured by the promises of new technology and fueled by FOMO (a fear of missing out). As enterprise strategists and former CXOs who have lived through many "technology is the solution, now what was the problem?" conversations, we talk extensively about this issue. To paraphrase Roy Amara, we overestimate the impact of a new technology early on. When it falls short of our expectations, our disappointment means we are less willing to adopt it when it is truly ready.

Machine learning (ML) is more than a technology. It's a sustainable solution that can help organizations build eco-friendly business models. In recent years, machine learning has also become more accessible, enabling leaders to take advantage of technology that can bolster business --and promote a better future for the planet. The commercial real estate sector has made some progress in making buildings more sustainable. With machine learning, organizations can monitor and report environmental impact on demand, efficiently manage data streams through AI, and reduce carbon emissions by closing the gap between the digital and the physical divide in the workplace. Carbon Lighthouse is an example of a company that is using machine learning to achieve sustainability in the commercial real estate sector using advanced solutions to make decarbonization easy and profitable.