What Is the Relationship Between AI and Accounting for Sustainability?

Dr. Gayan Benedict, CTO at Salesforce, former CIO at RBA explores the intersection of sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, emphasising how today’s AI advancements are increasingly driven by sustainability considerations. He highlights that financial leaders should understand the incentives and compliance requirements shaping AI and sustainability initiatives to ask informed questions and guide future decisions. AI’s trajectory has shifted from prioritising sheer computational power to focusing on efficiency, due to escalating costs and environmental concerns. The sustainability aspect is crucial, as AI computations require significant energy, contributing to carbon emissions. Global regulations, including Australia’s alignment with standards in the U.S., Europe, and Canada, are pressuring companies to adopt environmentally efficient practices, shaping both investment and operational strategies.

With trillions of calculations processed weekly, Salesforce’s platform exemplifies the shift toward compartmentalised, efficient AI models that minimise energy usage. New technologies, such as Agent Force and large action models, prioritise task-specific…