The role of artificial intelligence in the green transition: solution or part of the problem?

Press release of The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health 27 November 2024

In recent years, the use of generative AI has become increasingly common both in work life and elsewhere. The development of a more generally usable AI, capable of generating text, image and sound has offered new ways to process data, facilitate creative work and serve clients. Many organizations are still in the pilot phase, while others have already integrated AI as a core part of their operations. 

This development has also raised questions about the meaningfulness and ethics of work.

"The deployment of artificial intelligence raises concerns especially about the division of accountability between humans and AI, meaning the extent to which AI has the power to make decisions and how human discretion is taken into account. Artificial intelligence can also have a notable impact on the content of work and thereby its relevance," says researcher Jere Immonen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. 

“It is also worth noting that the training of large language models is often carried out in countries in the global south with low wages and questionable working conditions,” Immonen continues. 

The study finds that generative AI will have the greatest impact on knowledge work. It can replace routine tasks related to knowledge work, but also complement and develop the work, creating new professions and competence requirements.

“So far, it seems that the changes generative artificial intelligence cause in knowledge work will shape the nature and content of the work rather than completely replace it,” says Immonen. 

The potential of artificial intelligence has not been sufficiently utilised in climate and environmental issues

The ability of artificial intelligence to analyse large amounts of data and identify new solution models also creates opportunities for promoting the green transition in work organizations. Despite this, its potential for solving environmental issues remains mostly untapped. 

The green transition refers to the transition to an ecologically sustainable economy that is not based on overconsumption of natural resources and fossil fuels. Promoting the green transition using digital innovations, such as artificial intelligence, can be referred to as the twin digital and green transition.

Artificial intelligence and technologies based on it offer opportunities for promoting energy efficiency, renewable production and circular economy, as well as the reduction of emissions in sectors such as energy production, industry and agriculture.

Organizations can optimise the environmental sustainability of work processes, simulate activities' environmental impacts, monitor the energy and resource efficiency of premises and anticipate the demand for products and services.  

"However, there are still relatively few recognized uses of generative AI that promote the green transition. Perhaps the most concrete of them is steering human activity. Artificial intelligence can produce information for users that steers their actions in a more environmentally sustainable direction. In the financial sector, for example, generative AI can help target investments in areas that promote the green transition," says Immonen. 

“The risk is that the use of artificial intelligence will increase significantly for purposes other than promoting climate and environmental sustainability,” Immonen continues. 

The use of AI in promoting the green transition is limited by factors such as the availability and usability of data, technological capability and trust in AI and its outputs. One influential factor is the extent to which attitudes, motivation and organizational culture steer towards activities that promote ecological sustainability.

Promoting the twin transition in work life also requires using a variety of competencies. These competencies may be related to artificial intelligence or sustainability and include AI literacy and professional skills. 

The energy consumption and raw material requirements of AI make using it in an environmentally sustainable way challenging

Using artificial intelligence to support the green transition is a double-edged sword.  

"Although the aim is to promote ecological sustainability, the use of AI also has negative environmental impacts. AI may be used without ecological objectives, which may lead to unintended environmental damage. In particular, AI systems' requirements for data storage and processing increase energy consumption," says Immonen. 

Another key environmental challenge, in addition to energy consumption, is the cooling of processors and the water it requires. Other challenges to be solved are related to the materials required by technologies and the energy waste generated by AI servers. 

Future outlook regarding the role of artificial intelligence in the green transition

Artificial intelligence has been given great importance in the twin transition, but the concrete evidence of its successful use in promoting ecological sustainability is still limited. As an individual innovation, AI can have a limited impact on climate and environmental challenges, but as part of a broader systemic change, it could have a more significant impact. 

More research on the ecological, social and work life impacts of artificial intelligence will be needed, and we are currently launching surveys regarding the twin transitions aimed at both employees and employers. We believe that these surveys will provide interesting data on organizations' climate actions and the links between the digital and green transition," says Immonen. 

Additional information 

• Jere Immonen, Researcher, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, +358 30 474 3175, jere.immonen@ttl.fi
• Arja Ala-Laurinaho, Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, +358 30 474 2516, arja.ala-laurinaho@ttl.fi 

Read more

• Read the full report in Finnish: Tekoäly työelämän ja vihreän siirtymän muutosvoimana
• The study is part of the research project "Understanding and supporting the digital and green transition as part of well-being at work".
• The aim of the project is to increase understanding of the opportunities, challenges and impacts of the twin digital and green transition for use in political decision-making, extensive development programmes and the development work of work organizations.

 See also

• Read the first report by the project: “The twin digital and green transition as a transformation of work and a development opportunity”. The report will be published in English in December.