Sustainability as an enabler of Artificial Intelligence

Brazil faces the strategic challenge of expanding artificial intelligence (AI) without compromising sustainability. That was the central theme of the panel Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability – Challenges and Opportunities, held on Wednesday (Nov. 5) during the Summit Agenda SP+Verde in São Paulo. Participants emphasized that while AI can optimize processes and reduce emissions, it also demands high energy consumption and natural resources to operate.

Despite its initial energy demands, AI has the potential to become a major driver of efficiency in the long run. “AI is critical for optimizing renewable energy use and reducing emissions. As the technology matures, its energy footprint will decrease, just as we’ve seen with other innovations,” said Wolfgang Dieker, Global Head of Government Affairs at SAP.

“We have access to data from multiple industries that allows AI to analyze processes and identify concrete pathways to lower energy use and emissions. Sustainability data thus enables AI to think more holistically – and to turn it into an even better tool for companies to understand and accelerate sustainable progress,” he added.

Sustainability starts with people, through inclusion and skills development, noted Priscyla Laham, President of Microsoft Brazil. The company has pledged to be carbon negative by 2030 and to offset its entire historical carbon footprint by 2050. “We’re investing in our own data centers and training 5 million people over the next three years. AI is an inflection point for Brazil, but its impact depends on robust infrastructure and digital education,” she said.

José Luis Gordon, Director of Innovation at BNDES, highlighted the need to align Brazil’s digital and green agendas. He pointed out that connectivity is a prerequisite for ensuring AI’s benefits reach all regions of the country. “BNDES has already released R$5.4 billion for AI projects and plans to launch a R$12 billion line of credit for Industry 4.0 initiatives, prioritizing sustainable and productivity-enhancing solutions,” he explained.

Energy infrastructure was another key concern among panelists. Ronaldo Lemos, Chief Strategy Officer at ITS Rio, noted that while data centers generate jobs during construction, their long-term employment impact is limited. Brazil, he argued, can integrate these facilities efficiently into its economy through the use of biomethane.

“Our decentralized energy matrix is 100% renewable, but solar and wind are intermittent. Biomethane provides continuous supply and creates jobs, making the sector more sustainable,” he said. Lemos also stressed the need for tailored legislation to support local AI development, cautioning against simply replicating European regulatory models that may not fit Brazil’s context.

Thiago Camargo, Vice President of InvestSP, underscored the importance of public-private collaboration. “For Brazil to lead in sustainable AI, we must combine investment, innovation, and public policy that encourages companies and startups to develop responsible solutions. This is a unique opportunity to unite technology, energy efficiency, and economic growth,” he said.

Experts concluded that the future of AI in Brazil will depend on the intersection of technological innovation, clean energy, and ethical governance. With the right strategy, they argued, AI can not only mitigate environmental impacts but also generate measurable economic value – turning sustainability into a core component of corporate competitiveness.