Sustainability criteria for Artificial Intelligence – evaluation approach presented
The sustainability of AI systems is sometimes not in good shape. Among other things, AI systems are discussed for issues relating to discrimination, high energy and resource consumption, as well as the reproduction of social inequalities. In a new publication, the "SustAIn" project has presented comprehensive criteria for a systematic sustainability assessment of AI-based systems – eventually with the aim to promote more sustainable AI.
The increasing use of AI systems raises debates about their societal, environmental and economic impacts, such as non-transparent decision-making processes, discrimination, increasing inequalities, rising energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in AI model development and application. Other discussions also relate to broader consequences on labor markets, consumption patterns or the market power of large corporations. This publication presents conceptional ideas for a comprehensive sustainability assessment along the AI lifecycle. We suggest sustainability criteria with corresponding indicators to encourage a systematic assessment of AI systems and to support making their development and application more sustainable.
