More compute leads to greater electricity consumption, and consequent carbon emissions. A 2019 study by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst estimated that the electricity consumed during the training of a transformer, a type of deep learning algorithm, can emit more than 626,000 pounds ( 284 metric tons) of carbon dioxide--equal to more than 41 round-trip flights between New York City and Sydney, Australia. We are also facing an explosion of data storage. IDC projects that 180 zettabytes of data--or, 180 billion terabytes--will be created in 2025. The collective energy required for data storage at this scale is enormous and will be challenging to address sustainably.

Balanced and responsible development of advanced artificial intelligence affects a wide range of stakeholders and raises questions about the necessity of a moratorium. Researchers, developers, and AI labs working on powerful systems are directly involved in discussions about potential risks and the need for a pause in development. Governments and regulatory bodies also need to assess the implications of AI research and put in place measures to responsibly guide and oversee these technologies without stifling innovation. Workers and industries that could be affected by automation and digital transformation must be supported and helped to adapt to new labor market realities. Society as a whole must be involved in debates about ethical challenges and risks related to advanced AI, to ensure that the development of these technologies is ethical and beneficial for all. By collaborating and emphasizing transparency, safety, and alignment of interests, all stakeholders can work together to realize the benefits of AI while minimizing risks.

Significant investments and research developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have made the technology a powerful asset in many industries -- including environmental studies. AI isn't a new technology, but businesses and consumers feel its impact and witness it seep into everyday life. AI is becoming more advanced and autonomous, and it's also broader in its use and impact. More use cases for AI are emerging, and if implemented responsibly, it can greatly benefit society. It's likely to play a role in tackling issues like climate change -- but how? Here's how AI is expected to impact the environment and usher in positive changes for a more sustainable future. It's critical to understand the breadth of environmental problems right now.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaping an increasing number of sectors globally. Degradation of the natural environment and the climate crisis are complex issues requiring the most advanced and innovative solutions. AI is expected to impact environmental, financial, and job stability, amongst other areas in the future. But, how much can AI really help contribute to the climate crisis? Environmentally, Artificial Intelligence can aid management across agriculture, water, energy, and transport. For water resource management, AI can help to reduce or eliminate waste while lowering costs and lessening environmental impact, such as AI-driven localized weather forecasting to help restrict water usage.

MUNICH, Germany and ANTWERP, Belgium, Dec 14, 2020 – The Nemetschek Group, one of the world's leading software providers for the architecture, engineering, construction, and building operations (AECO) industry, announced that its subsidiary Spacewell – headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium – has acquired 100% of DEXMA. Based in Barcelona, Spain, DEXMA is a fast-growing provider of innovative SaaS solutions with artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities for energy data management. The company enables over 4,000 customers in 30 countries worldwide to effectively measure, monitor, and manage their energy consumption and costs. "Buildings account for 30 percent of our total energy use and 28 percent of global carbon emissions. This acquisition is a huge benefit for our customers who are aiming to become more sustainable in their operations. Energy management is an important element in creating truly autonomous buildings that automatically adapt their behaviors to the occupants and stakeholders," says Koen Matthijs, Chief Division Officer, Operate & Manage Division at the Nemetschek Group.

Energy investors in search of resilience are rediscovering the power of IoT and machine learning to guide data-driven decisions in the face of an increasingly volatile economic environment. Much has happened since I first wrote about a cloud-based IoT platform from Kaiserwetter Energy Asset Management called ARISTOTELES. ARISTOTELES is at the forefront of informed decision-making platforms supporting all stakeholders involved in renewable energy investments. "We're seeing strong interest from investors who want to stay ahead of ongoing shocks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as all the other variables that impact the energy industry," said Hanno Schoklitsch, CEO and founder at Kaiserwetter Energy Asset Management. "Our customers have been super-astonished when they've seen how they could use applied data intelligence on a daily basis to benchmark the performance of the assets they have invested in, and predict production outcomes of renewable energy facilities throughout the world at any given time."

Over the past few years, sustainability has gradually become a greater and more important part of each of our lives. As human beings, we strive to sustain many things; our relationships with others, local and global economies, our livelihoods and the world we live in. We see the act of sustainable living encouraged and documented everywhere – think'Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.' It's becoming increasingly apparent that every individual in every organization can have a unique and significant impact in creating a more sustainable future. If humans can have such a measurable impact, what about AI? Our minds usually jump to the environment when we talk about sustainability, but its meaning has changed over the years as global priorities have shifted. It wasn't until the 20th century that it began to represent what we now recognize as the accepted definition: creating lasting and efficient methods through which to live our lives in order to maintain our world for future generations.

As societies around the world take increasingly drastic measures to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, the collective response is having an unforeseen impact on the environment. For example, with factories closed and transportation restricted, China saw a 25% decline in carbon dioxide emissions over a four-week period. Similarly, New York City, with fewer restrictions than China, has still seen emissions fall by 5%-10%. It's as if by confronting one crisis, humankind has shown that it could also -- with the proper motivation -- confront another. Of course, like the pandemic itself, the drop in emissions will eventually come to an end, rebounding once restrictions on movement and economic activity ease.

All rights reserved • PwC refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting (Australia) Pty Limited, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details. The content on this site is provided by PwC for general information purposes only. It is not advice and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisers.

The technology sector has had some missteps over the last few years, leading to 2018 being dubbed the year of the Techlash by the Financial Times. On the surface, things don't seem to have changed since then. Barely a week into 2020, Facebook refused to either fact-check political ads or limit how they can be targeted; going back into 2019, a CEO was duped by an artificial intelligence program to fraudulently transfer over a quarter of a million dollars to an account run by criminals; a study published in December found that facial recognition software programs are consistently far less accurate at identifying African-American and Asian faces than they are with Caucasian. Yet there is a sense amongst those in the technology industry of wanting to, in the words of global inclusion strategist Debra Ruh, "stand for more than profits." In her eyes, "technology is a powerful equalizer for people. However, if the technology and communications are not accessible or inclusively designed, the digital divide widens, society loses."