* Nearly half of organizations are taking action to reduce the environmental impact of generative AI
and 41% of companies use this technology to promote sustainable IT initiatives in the country
* Hybrid cloud and server virtualization are the main measures taken by companies in Brazil
to reduce the carbon footprint of their technology operations
* More than half of companies had a positive impact on operational efficiency
from sustainability initiatives across the country
As organizations strive to mitigate the impact of climate change and minimize their environmental footprint, emerging technologies like generative AI can play a key role in helping companies advance sustainability initiatives focused on information technology (IT). A new study from the IBM Institute for Business Value revealed that 411% of organizations in Brazil are currently using generative AI (GAI) and large language models (LLMs) in their sustainable IT efforts.
The study “IT Sustainability at the Crossroads” found that the top uses for those applying generative AI to sustainability initiatives and IT operations in Brazil are optimizing energy consumption, predicting carbon emissions, and optimizing waste management. Among the top benefits organizations experience as a result of implementing generative AI solutions are carbon footprint reduction, resource optimization, waste reduction, and energy efficiency.
The study also found that nearly half of organizations (45%) in the country have taken steps to reduce the environmental impact of AI and LLMs to a moderate or major extent. For example, 56% of companies have implemented AI for Sustainable Design to minimize the impact of AI and machine learning applications, and 43% say they have had a significantly positive impact on the overall sustainability of IT operations.
“While generative AI can be a game-changer in achieving more sustainable IT operations, driving real change requires a strategic and sustainable approach,” said Carlos Tunes, Sustainability Leader at IBM Brazil. “On average, organizations in Brazil attribute 15.5% of energy costs to IT operations, but only 23% are integrating sustainability assessments during the design and planning stages of projects. Sustainability must be a business imperative that informs and guides decision-making at all levels, and AI can also play a key role in this.” Carlos Tunes, Sustainability Leader at IBM Brazil
Other key findings from the Brazil study include:
Sustainable IT practices must extend throughout the company
* Only 20% of the companies present in Brazil say they are highly effective in communicating and collaborating between different areas around sustainable technologies and only 11% are highly effective in aligning data management, retention and archiving policies with sustainability objectives.
* The main actions that companies have taken to reduce the environmental impact of technology on the part of employees are training (61%); encouraging sustainable email and communication practices, such as reducing the size of the inbox or limit camera usage in video calls (61%) and encourage less downloading, streaming or duplication of storage (52%).
* In fact, last year, employees in Brazil dedicated 12 hours to training and awareness programs related to IT sustainability initiatives.
Hybrid cloud and server virtualization lead among the most sustainable actions
* Hybrid cloud and server virtualization are the main actions used by companies in the country to reduce the carbon footprint of their technology operations (70%). Other actions include configurations to manage the energy of devices (57%), the implementation of low-power hardware (55%) and the use of renewable energy sources in data centers (48%).
* Nearly a quarter of companies in Brazil (23%) are leveraging hybrid cloud solutions to significantly improve the sustainability and energy efficiency of IT operations, and 27% of them report an overall positive impact on IT sustainability.
IT sustainability initiatives are having a positive impact on organizations
* In Brazil, 50% of companies received financial incentives (e.g., tax credits, rebates) to adopt IT sustainability initiatives.
* 73% of organizations in the country said that implementing IT sustainability initiatives had a positive or significant impact on operational efficiency. Implementing these initiatives over the past year has resulted in savings of 22% in overall IT energy costs, 30.5% less IT energy consumption and a 16.5% reduction in IT carbon footprint.
The study, “IT Sustainability at the Crossroads,” emphasizes the urgent need for organizations to take a holistic and responsible approach to technology, and how the answer to a more sustainable future lies in a comprehensive sustainable IT strategy that goes beyond energy efficiency. The study also serves as a resource for business leaders, including actionable strategies to help companies define their IT approach, empower employees, and leverage insights based on data and AI to navigate as leaders at the crossroads of sustainable information technologies.
To view the full study, visit this link.
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