‘Artificial intelligence has the potential to deliver enormous benefits to society, but only if used responsibly’ – Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. The same is true for digital technologies – when used sustainably, they can serve a meaningful purpose like decarbonisation.
Key digital technologies
Cloud computing is the provision of computing power and related services by an external provider. Data is not stored on own hard drives, but in external resources. Usually, the service recipient pays only for the services actually rendered, which reduces operating costs and facilitates more efficient use of the infrastructure. It eliminates the need to manage own servers and install or administer own software. The technology provides access to large computing power at a fraction of the cost of the infrastructure.
Blockchain is a distributed ledger containing data stored in a way that makes data manipulation impossible. Blockchain can be used to store and transfer information about online transactions. Importantly, in the context of sustainability, blockchain makes it possible to track and record the product development process at all stages in a transparent and reliable manner.
Augmented reality is a technology that combines the real and virtual world. Typically, 3D graphic content is superimposed on a camera image.
5G is a mobile communications technology standard and the successor to 4G. Its expected parameters will enable data transmission with low latency and significantly higher data rates compared with current mobile technologies.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interconnected devices that are equipped with sensors, have the ability to process data and exchange information with other devices, for instance via the Internet.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines to display human-like capabilities such as reasoning, learning, planning, and creativity. It enables systems to understand a lot of available data (for instance from sensors at an industrial plant or from a camera). Based on this data, action patterns are created. AI increases business efficiency and productivity by automating processes or tasks that used to require a lot of manual effort and analysis. Artificial intelligence can also make sense of data on a scale no human can.
Examples include virtual assistants, image analysis software, search engines, voice and face recognition systems, autonomous driving systems, drones, and the Internet of Things.
A family of technologies that process, collect and transfer information electronically.
