Programs Put AI to Work for Sustainability. Experience of Microsoft, Google, Starbucks and Citibank
Sustainability management is important for your company to implement if you want to achieve your corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives. Responsible energy consumption and doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint are vital components of sustainability. Take a look at these companies that have implemented sustainability management programs that put artificial intelligence (AI) to work for them.
Microsoft
AI for Earth: At the AI event in London on July 12, 2017, Microsoft unveiled their AI for Earth program, designed to use AI to solve challenging environmental issues in the global community. Their CSR factor is extremely high, and they want to do their part to cultivate a healthier and enhanced future for everyone. The core foundational pillars of the program are based on accessibility to the cloud and AI intelligence resources, educational opportunities for organizations, and innovative project management. The complex algorithms, data mining and analyzing, and infrastructure focuses on addressing environmental challenges regarding:
- Biodiversity
- Climate change
- Water
- Agriculture
Google has implemented a variety of sustainability projects that utilize AI to achieve CSR goals. Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have long believed in sustainability, beginning with the construction of desks out of doors and sawhorses when the company first started. Google is partnering with more than 65,000 innovative software engineers, political tacticians, and sustainability experts to discover pioneering ways to help with current environmental issues. Some of their current projects include:
- Invisible mapping of streets with air pollution sensors
- Tracking illegal fishing activity through ocean data mining
- A CSR objective to become 100% renewable
- Utilization of organic food in Google cafés
- Earth engine data analysis living map to depict forest loss
- Residential solar panel implementation program
- Green grid project for buying renewable energy sources
Starbucks
Starbucks operates its manufacturing plants, cafés, and retail stores efficiently, using 70 percent renewable energy sources, such as wind power. Their CSR objectives are prevalent in all areas of company operations. Their mission statement is to “have a positive impact on the communities they serve — one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.” The four foundational pillars of their sustainability management program include:
- Using ethically and sustainably sourced food
- Social commitment to provide adequate training for team members
- Using AI to become a leader in “green retail” to lower their carbon footprint
- Strengthening neighborhoods with civic engagement programs
Starbucks is using AI to achieve success in their social responsibility toward consumers through cloud computing, customer personalization, and data mining with the new “digital flywheel” application, which provides an enhanced customer experience.
Citibank
Citibank has implemented a financial initiative program where the company plans to invest $100 billion in sustainability management projects with the following goals:
- Find and invest in projects that substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Finance scalable innovations that utilize Big Data to find solutions for environmental issues
Have you been inspired by how these companies are implementing sustainability management programs that integrate AI to help them achieve their CSR objectives?
