The Intel Sustainable Intelligence Index
Now is the time for digital transformation and sustainability strategies to come together. We believe AI is the technology to break these silos and propel organizations into a tech-positive space.
Harnessing AI Solutions for a More Sustainable Future
AI is everywhere, transforming the way we work and revolutionizing industries. At the same time, organizations are focused on driving their sustainability agenda forward.
Our previous research study, The Sustainable CTO, highlighted the need for digital and sustainability strategies to merge—and we see AI as the catalyst for this integration.
The Intel Sustainable Intelligence Index reveals which sectors are making the greatest progress in harnessing AI for sustainability, leading the way to a cleaner, greener, nature-positive future.
The Highlights
The Intention-Action Gap
Advanced technologies, such as AI, play a paradoxical role in the net-zero transition agenda. With the widespread adoption of these tools comes the demand for increased computing power. Yet, at the same time, these disruptive technologies also hold the key to the solution, helping to optimize processes and drive sustainable decision-making.
However, our research reveals a gap between organizations’ intentions when it comes to harnessing AI for sustainable progress, and the action they’re taking.
The ROI of AI
Our research shows that organizations investing in sustainability-related AI solutions are seeing improved efficiencies across their operations, from optimized resource allocation and supply chain management to improved carbon footprint tracking and renewable energy integration.
These efficiencies are leading to average annual savings of $11.7 million for the organizations in our study, with the greatest reported annual savings being $53 million.
Index Performance
The Sustainable CTO uncovered the Tech Trilemma: the three areas that need board-level attention for organizations to fully leverage technologies to drive sustainable progress.
The Intel Sustainable Intelligence Index measures sector performance across these pillars—knowledge, investment, and innovation—regarding AI. This reveals where organizations are making the most progress and the greatest barriers to reaching tech positive.
Regional Performance
How do different regions compare on their use of AI for tech zero and tech positive progress? Our research reveals how organizations based in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and China are performing across the pillars of knowledge, investment, and innovation.
Sector Performance
When AI strategies are developed with sustainability as a guiding principle, organizations can win on two fronts:
- Tech zero: Using AI to reduce the carbon footprint of their IT function.
- Tech positive: Using AI as a lever for the whole organization to reach its net-zero goals and to have a positive overall impact, driving business growth and accelerating innovation.
The Intel Sustainable Intelligence Index reveals which sectors are successfully leveraging AI for tech-zero and tech-positive progress.
“There’s a lot to be learned from the 'Visionaries' in our study: the organizations effectively bridging AI and sustainability. The journey to a tech-positive future is ongoing, but we are committed to sharing our learnings to help others carve out a path to more sustainable technology practices and a more sustainable future.”
—Motti Finkelstein, Corporate Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Intel
The Intel Sustainable Intelligence Index Report
AI tools can help transform entire organizations and business models to deliver a cleaner, greener, nature-positive future. The Intel Sustainable Intelligence Index ranks key sectors on their use of AI to drive sustainable progress, revealing where organizations need to focus to reach tech positive.
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Executive Summary
Get a quick overview of The Intel Sustainable Intelligence Index.
Read the executive summary
The Sectors
Manufacturing
AI is transforming the manufacturing sector, revolutionizing asset management, maintenance, and efficiency. To drive meaningful long-term sustainability, manufacturing C-suite leaders need to view AI as a lever to drive sustainability across their entire business and stay alert to the carbon implications of rapidly deploying AI at scale.
Financial Services
The financial services sector is a leader in enterprise technology adoption. Organizations have the experience and are recruiting the talent to become Visionaries in AI solutions. However, leaders need more in-depth acknowledgement and appreciation of AI’s value to deliver a strong sustainability strategy that aligns with their wider business goals.
Healthcare and Life Sciences
While there are many applications for AI across healthcare and life sciences, AI is more frequently associated with efficiency over sustainability. Organizations are adopting AI for patient care, diagnostics and research support, but the long-term environmental implications of extensive technology deployment need to be a factor within long-term planning.