Artificial intelligence and sustainability: Redefining global practices for a better future

¹ Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune
² Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Nagpur, Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a revolutionary phenomenon in achieving sustainability, but the key question is: How can AI be systematically leveraged to reinvent the world’s practices in a more sustainable and a better future? The focus of this paper is to research the intersection point of AI, digital transformation, and sustainable systems, address the real-world use and governance structures. The adopted methodology is a mixed methods approach, in which a review of the current literature AI driven sustainability initiatives will be followed by case studies’ analysis of industries such as supply chain management, smart agriculture and green manufacturing. An overview of AI focuses on these aspects and provides comparative analysis among the examples of their use to identify opportunities and challenges in implementing sustainability into strategies of technical modernization. The most important results include that the AI allows achieving enormous efficiency improvements by means of predictive analytics, resource optimization, and automation, which results in quantifiable carbon footprints and operational expenses. An example of AI-based supply chain optimization is waste reduction and resilience, which are achieved through AI-based supply chain optimization solutions, and smart agriculture applications, which are used to forecast yields and improve environmental impact. Nevertheless, the study also reveals weaknesses in ethical governance, data transparency, and fair access, which should be overcome to make sure that AI can positively impact the global sustainability objectives. The conclusion highlights the fact that AI is not a technology facilitator but a tactical co-creator for sustainable futures. The point is quite obvious: the adoption of AI as a responsible practice that is regulated by ethical standards and shared governance is needed to strike a balance between innovation and ecological and social responsibility. AI is here to sustain and outlive all other technologies so far for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The present paper provides practical implications to policy makers, industry players, and scientists interested in using AI to create sustainable practices in the world.