According to the US Data Center Energy Usage Report, the electricity required to refuel AI data centers doubled between 2017 and 2023, hampering energy reduction targets. One report found that CO2 emissions produced by CHATGPT correspond to those produced by 260 flights between New York and London each month.
As AI becomes essential to the modern economy, there is pressure to understand the complexities of AI use and to find a career that cannot be replaced by digital tools, as well as to prepare graduates who can use such technologies ethically and sustainably.
AI and empathy in the center
The Institute of Management of India (IIM Indore) is at the forefront of this shift, integrating the principles of “green AI” into both the curriculum and the broader institutional spirit.
“We are deeply committed to ensuring that students are equipped with business owners and technical expertise and people’s skills and that automation and sustainability are ready for a future where they hold their hands,” says Professor Himanshu Rai, director of the school.
The MBA integrates new technologies into the curriculum, integrating courses such as data visualization and metaverse, and business applications taught along with ethics and governance. The new AI tools are presented as case studies to examine social impacts and long-term sustainability outlook.
“Our approach is practical and industry-linked,” explains Rai. “We deliberately balance technical proficiency with a lens of people-centered leadership, empathy and sustainability.” IIM Indore recognizes these global concerns and treats them as a call to action.
“We believe that this is not a conflict and that it is essential to design and use AI responsibly,” explains Rai. AI integration and sustainability is an ongoing process, curriculum adaptation, recruiting skilled faculty and working closely with industry partners to ensure that Indore students are equipped to address real challenges.
Large-scale responsible digital infrastructure
The quest for sustainable AI is growing beyond Indore. Towards Paris, Nemoa Business School deals with sustainability as a core principle of how new technology is introduced and managed.
“We are pleased to announce that we are a great place to go,” said Alain Goudey, Dean of Digital at Neoma. “We focus on three key actions.” These include responsible curriculum design, sustainable digital infrastructure using energy-efficient cloud platforms, and the use of small open source AI models such as mistral AI, which are consumed both during training and when generating results. The school plans to deploy it to 3,000 users, showing how low-energy AI can be applied at scale.
The school is also redesigning teaching methods to better prepare graduates to work in the AI world. “We ensure that students are the basis for the future by developing skills that complement AI: critical thinking, creativity, ethical judgment, leadership, and cross-cultural collaboration,” explains Goudey.
Recognizing misconceptions around AI, he reinforces the importance of using technology carefully. “We believe that AI is resource intensive in nature, but when used thoughtfully, AI can promote sustainability.
Make sustainability the core AI principle
With that approach in mind, the Open Technology Institute injects sustainable principles into the heart of their education.
“Our approach to teaching AI sustainably is firmly integrated into both the curriculum and daily classroom activities,” says Zorina Alliata of Opit. “We’re committed to creating a learning environment that prioritizes energy-efficient algorithms and processing processes from the start.”
Students explore new models such as neurotypes and quantum computing. “Through the course, students are challenged not only to maximize technical solutions, but also to consider the overall sustainability of their computing decisions,” she says. The program also promotes a balanced understanding of AI opportunities and challenges related to sustainability, an increasingly valued skill set by employers. “Students are encouraged to see AI as a complementary partner to human intelligence with a particular emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, ethical management, and constant learning.”
Like Goudey, she is tackling that perception head on. “We believe that using AI is inconsistent with the value of sustainability…but if Intellignetly is built, AI could be a powerful enabler of environmental goals,” concludes Alliata.
Encourage deep trade-off thinking
When integrating AI into education and industry, schools emphasize the importance of acknowledging that all innovations come with both benefits and costs.
“Many AI enthusiasts consider little impact on sustainability,” says Meeris Kitting, president of the Estonian Business School, who is encouraged to explore ways to balance efficiency, competence and sustainability when making AI-related decisions. “We recognize and actively encourage discussions about the trade-offs involved in the use of AI in learning environments. Sustainability-related issues are an integral part of these.”
He says that the important obstacle is thinking. Institutions need to go beyond traditional business education to promote true interdisciplinary collaboration in integrating AI and sustainability.
The school will implement summer programs on digitalization and sustainability that bring together academics, entrepreneurs and policymakers, adding practical examples to support sustainable AI in the broader curriculum.
I look forward to: India’s role in the formation of responsible AI
By allowing students and industry experts to work together to tackle and witness “Green Eye,” EBS develops graduates with the skills to continue this work even after graduation, not only are they part of the answer to sustainable AI.
As Professor Rai of IIM Indore points out, “I want my graduates to be not only skilled management experts, but also responsible custodians of society and the environment.”
In an age where technology advances faster than regulations and public understanding, the role of universities has been more important than ever. A new and clear consensus is emerging across the continent. Sustainability, ethics, and AI are not competing priorities and are inseparable.
The above views are by the author himself.
End of article
