Sustainability

Generative AI: Accelerating sustainability through responsible innovation

Download infographic4 MB pdf

Generative AI has taken the world by storm, promising to transform industries.

Eighty percent of organizations have increased their investment in generative AI since 2023, while the remaining 20% have maintained their investment level, according to the 2nd edition of the Generative AI in organizations report. And generative AI has already begun delivering on its promise with respondents from said report seeing a 6.7% improvement in customer experience and a 5.8% increase in operational efficiency in areas where generative AI has been piloted or deployed. And these are only the first results.

Early benefits of Generative AI

Organizations leveraging generative AI have realized measurable gains, including improved customer experiences, operational efficiency, and increased revenue.

However, this innovation comes at a price and it’s not just monetary. Organizations deploying generative AI often overlook its resource consumption resulting in a higher carbon footprint and the accelerated depletion of natural resources. And this cost remains hidden: today, only one-third of organizations are doing any monitoring of generative AI’s resource, carbon, and water costs. Additionally, organizations must also consider the social costs of generative AI such as the impact of bias. 

Generative AI: Impact and material considerations

Generative AI offers enormous promise to revolutionize industries. 74% of organizations agree that generative AI will drive revenue and innovation, with companies realizing an average revenue increase of 15.8%. The expected global GDP increase from generative AI is $7 trillion.

Balancing generative AI potential with planetary responsibility

So how can we balance the potential of generative AI while considering its cost to the planet at large?  

  1. Minimize generative AI’s impact by consciously taking a sustainable by design mindset into how we engineer and architect solutions while establishing clear guardrails. 
  2. Accelerate sustainability initiatives such as sustainable product design or Environment Society and Governance (ESG)  disclosures by leveraging generative AI. 
  3. Create tangible progress towards achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal commitments through innovation driven by generative AI. 

Leading the eco-digital revolution

As the leader of the eco-digital revolution, we at Capgemini are committed to helping our clients harness the immense potential of generative AI while considering its cost to the planet and society. Over the next few months, we will explore these topics in depth.

Learn more about generative AI and sustainability

1. Download our infographic: Generative AI: Accelerating sustainability through responsible innovation 

2. Read the Generative AI in organizations report.  

3. Join us for a discussion on this topic and others at the Capgemini Business to Planet Connect at New York Climate Week.  

FAQs

Generative AI can accelerate sustainability by optimizing operations, supporting sustainable product design, and enabling Environment, Society, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, helping organizations reduce environmental impact while driving innovation.

Yes. Generative AI consumes significant computing resources, which can increase carbon footprints and deplete natural resources. Currently, only about one-third of organizations monitor generative AI’s resource, carbon, and water costs.

Organizations can adopt a sustainable by design mindset, build solutions with clear environmental and social guardrails, and track the resource and social impact of AI deployments.

It means engineering and architecting generative AI solutions with sustainability in mind from the start building clear guardrails and practices that minimize environmental impact rather than retrofitting sustainability later.

Yes. By driving innovation responsibly, generative AI can create tangible progress toward achieving UN SDG commitments, particularly in areas like climate action, responsible consumption, and industry innovation.

Eco-digital transformation refers to integrating digital innovation like AI with environmental responsibility, ensuring technology adoption drives business value without harming the planet.

Capgemini supports clients in balancing AI innovation with environmental and societal impact. Initiatives include designing eco-conscious AI solutions, publishing insights, and hosting events like Business to Planet Connect during New York Climate Week.

Capgemini helps organizations understand AI’s societal impact through responsible AI frameworks, sustainability assessments, governance models, and expert advisory services. By evaluating the ethical, environmental, and social implications of AI, Capgemini enables businesses to adopt AI responsibly while driving long-term value and positive societal outcomes.

Generative AI offers immense potential to drive sustainability, and by adopting responsible innovation, organizations can balance growth with environmental and social impact connect with Capgemini today to accelerate your sustainable AI journey.

Contact us

* Mandatory field

First Name is not valid.
Last Name is not valid.
Email is not valid.
Job Title is not valid.
Company is not valid.
Country is not valid.
Use right arrow keys to slide, or drag right with your finger. When you reach 100 percent, the form is submitted.

We are sorry, the form submission failed. Please try again.