New Observatory Launched to Address the Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence with Support from Capgemini

New Observatory Launched to Address the Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence with Support from Capgemini

(IN BRIEF) Capgemini, the AI and Society Institute, the Ecole normale supérieure (ENS-PLS), and the ENS Foundation have launched a global Observatory focused on analyzing and mitigating the environmental impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its entire lifecycle. The initiative aims to create a shared methodology for sustainable AI practices, addressing the rising environmental footprint driven by the increasing computational demands of generative AI. The Observatory will bring together experts from academia, business, and civil society to promote transparency and collaboration in AI development. It will also facilitate the creation of an open-access database to allow AI developers to share data on environmental performance. This effort is part of a broader push to ensure that AI’s benefits do not come at the expense of the planet.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 3-Feb-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — With support from Capgemini, the AI and Society Institute, the Ecole normale supérieure (ENS-PLS), and the ENS Foundation, a new Observatory has been launched to assess and reduce the environmental impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) throughout its entire lifecycle—from training and adjustment to inference and end-of-life. This collaborative initiative aims to develop a unified, actionable methodology to promote more sustainable AI practices.

As AI, particularly generative AI, becomes more widely adopted, it is transforming industries and creating new possibilities. However, the increasing computational requirements for these advanced systems are contributing significantly to the environmental impact, including higher energy consumption, water usage, and carbon emissions. A recent Capgemini R&D study reveals that generative AI models consume 4,600 times more energy than traditional models, and AI-related electricity consumption could increase by up to 24.4 times by 2030 in the most extreme cases. Addressing this issue will require collective efforts from all sectors involved in the AI value chain, as noted in the research.

The newly established global Observatory aims to confront these environmental challenges. It will unite a wide range of stakeholders, including academic institutions, businesses, and civil society, to:

• Develop a comprehensive, standardized methodology for evaluating the environmental impact of AI technologies;
• Create an open-access global database that allows AI developers and researchers to share data on their models’ environmental performance, fostering greater transparency and collaboration;
• Promote sustainable AI practices across industries;
• Provide strategic insights and share knowledge on mitigating AI’s environmental footprint;
• Facilitate collaboration among key stakeholders to drive change.

Anne Bouverot, Chairwoman of the ENS-PLS Board of Directors, emphasized the importance of combining research with action, stating, “We believe that for meaningful societal change, research and action must go hand in hand.”

Marc Mézard, Chairman of the AI and Society Institute, added, “This Observatory serves as a bridge between theory and practice, aligning with our commitment to offering informed solutions regarding AI’s impact to both public and private sectors.”

Etienne Grass, Managing Director of Capgemini Invent France, also highlighted the importance of a responsible approach, noting, “While large AI models promise efficiency, they come with a hefty environmental price tag and increased costs. To responsibly harness AI’s potential, clear and transparent methodologies must be established, with the collaboration of all players in the AI ecosystem.”

Capgemini’s dedication to sustainable AI is evident through its previous research, including a survey of 2,000 senior executives across 15 countries and a report outlining a methodology for estimating the environmental impact of AI within companies’ portfolios.

About Ecole normale supérieure

At the same time a French grande école and a university, the Ecole normale supérieure provides in Paris, at the heart of the Quartier latin, excellent training through research, leading to various teaching and research professions, and contributes to train through research the senior executives of public administrations as well as of French and European companies. The ENS also defines and applies scientific and technological research policies, from a multidisciplinary and international perspective.

https://www.ens.psl.eu/en

About the IA & Société Institute

The Institute for AI and Society, hosted by the École normale supérieure, was co-founded by Université Paris Dauphine, PSL, and the Abeona Foundation. Its mission is to promote the responsible development and use of AI by studying its interactions with society.

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About the ENS Foundation

Founded in 1986 and recognized as a public-interest organization, the Fondation de l’École normale supérieure is dedicated to supporting teaching and research initiatives while expanding the ENS’s outreach by engaging the generosity of donors and corporate partners.

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About Capgemini

Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fuelled by its market leading capabilities in AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2023 global revenues of €22.5 billion.

Get the Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

Media Contacts:

ENS:
Lola Melkonian
lola@buzzdistrict.com / +33 6 09 38 67 84
Romain Pigenel romain.pigenel@ens.psl.eu

Capgemini:
Victoire Grux
Tel.: + 33 6 04 52 16 55
E-mail: victoire.grux@capgemini.com

SOURCE: Capgemini