Have you ever wondered if artificial intelligence (AI) can help us build a more sustainable and equitable future?
By Doug Woolley, GM and vice-president of Dell Technologies South Africa
Today, as AI seamlessly integrates into our daily lives, its adoption and impact are no longer a question of ‘if’ but ’when’ and – most importantly – ’how’. According to the recent Dell Technologies Innovation Catalyst study, 91% of South African IT leaders believe that AI and GenAI will significantly transform their industries. Meanwhile, McKinsey estimates that work automation using GenAI and other technologies will boost productivity by 60% to 70%.
Of course, implementing AI is not as simple as flicking a switch. One of the major challenges is the energy intensity of the technology. According to a Gartner report, increasing adoption of GenAI will lead to dramatic increases in energy use, with annual ICT electricity increases of 25% or more. These increased emissions and water consumption could result in vendors failing to meet environmental performance targets established in application selection processes.
As AI starts delivering on its enormous potential to increase productivity and power more efficient processes, forward-thinking businesses are faced with the challenge of adopting energy-intensive AI capabilities without compromising vital sustainability and energy efficiency objectives – all while maintaining data sovereignty and ensuring optimal return on investment.
Let’s explore how businesses can adopt and integrate AI as part of an enterprise-wide transformation that’s focused on driving sustainability and energy efficiency priorities forward.
Accelerating efficiencies in the data centre
Adopting energy-efficient infrastructure is a powerful way to advance sustainability in an organisation’s data centre. AI can support this by driving efficiencies while enhancing the company’s ability to monitor and control its carbon footprint. Net zero targets have come thick and fast in recent years.
South Africa is aiming to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, although these efforts are currently being hindered by its coal-fired power plants. New corporate sustainability reporting standards have begun to come into force, with more and more organisations obliged to report on their ESG efforts. The Innovation Catalyst study shows that 87% of South African respondents have a clear sustainability roadmap for their company, with defined goals to reduce their carbon footprint.
Energy-efficient technology has also evolved significantly over the years, rendering old hardware a burden. What took six servers in 2013 takes just one today. Meanwhile, innovative software and remote management solutions can provide an overview of the organisation’s energy usage and environmental impact.
By carefully designing their IT environment in line with their priorities, businesses can find a balance between reducing their physical footprint, increasing efficiency and equipping themselves with the capacity they need to grow. However, as companies approach IT transformation, what they do with their data will have implications for future growth. Seventy percent of South African respondents to the Innovation Catalyst study indicated that their data and intellectual property are too valuable to be placed in a GenAI tool to which a third party might have access. By bringing AI to your data, you can maintain data sovereignty while embracing the benefits of GenAI.
The as a Service (aaS) model enables AI transformation while advancing sustainability
Demand is growing for flexible consumption models, and the greater agility they offer is well-suited to optimisation for deploying AI workloads. 84% of South African respondents to the Innovation Catalyst study are experimenting with aaS solutions to manage their IT environments more efficiently to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint.
An aaS model can ensure that companies continue to operate with the latest hardware that boasts the best energy efficiency and is produced to the highest sustainability standards. By opting for an aaS model, businesses can cut costs and reduce waste while gaining more control over their applications and data, thereby allowing them to modernise their IT environment and scale with AI where necessary.
Adopt AI without compromising energy efficiency to drive the future of work
Modern devices are increasingly being designed, manufactured and shipped with sustainability in mind, in addition to having intelligent AI-enabled features that keep users productive. For example, Dell Optimizer learns and responds to how users work, adjusting performance to meet peak worktimes and extending battery life through intelligent power-saving features.
Applying energy settings appropriate to performance requirements, powering down at the end of the day and using rechargeable and USB-powered peripherals can help advance energy efficiency. In addition, businesses can take advantage of regular refresh cycles to ensure that they operate with the latest energy-efficiency technology, reducing upfront costs and Total Cost of Use (TCU) while driving operational benefits and supporting sustainability objectives.
Leveraging AI to chart a roadmap to sustainability
Adopting energy-efficient infrastructure is a powerful way to advance sustainability and is already bringing about a radical shift in how businesses approach innovation and growth.
However, adopting AI is a matter for the entire organisation, so to make the most of these opportunities businesses must adopt a holistic approach, bringing leaders from across the organisation together to collaborate and integrate AI-led strategies into every facet of their operations. The era of AI has begun, and there has never been a better time to advance multi-faceted energy-efficient and sustainable priorities.