The IFGICT recently partnered with ITU as part of the IFGICT strategy to expand the ICT standards, the ITU and IFGICT agreed that IFGICT will join and participate in the study group committee of A.I.
The study group committee members identify the standardization needs to develop a sustainable approach to AI Standard and other emerging technologies including automation, augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, smart manufacturing, industry 5.0, cloud/edge computing, nanotechnology, 5G, among others. The focus group will develop technical reports and technical specifications to address the environmental efficiency, as well as water and energy consumption of emerging technologies, and provide guidance to stakeholders on how to operate these technologies in a more environmentally efficient manner to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The fourth industrial revolution fundamentally changes the way we live, work and interact with each other. It introduces a whole new range of opportunities for societal transformation, with breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and blockchain that are further embedding technology into our daily lives to improve how we function as a society.
“Joining digital technology is essential for our civilization to speed up the systemic shifts needed to create a circular economy,” said Dr. Kayyali the president of the IFGICT, utilizing technology may allow for greater knowledge sharing and collaboration, better use of assets, and resources, and improved well-being for all, so we can achieve our economic, environmental and social development goals.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies have the ability to positively impact our society and everyday life. For example, AI Standard is the underlying fabric that powers data-driven solutions and applications. Similarly, the immutable nature of blockchain is underpinning the development of cryptocurrency and has great potential in securing a high volume of sensory devices. Other emerging technologies may include inter alia: automation, augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, 5G, smart manufacturing, industry 5.0, cloud/edge computing, and nanotechnology, among others.
However, some emerging technologies including AI Standard may not take sustainability into consideration during their development. These technologies often consume a huge amount of energy when operating, leaving behind significant environmental footprints. For example, the current annual electricity consumption of Bitcoin mining can be comparable to the electricity consumption of Switzerland in one year. It is important to understand how to reduce the environmental footprint of these technologies because it will contribute to the well-being of the market economy as well as improve the quality of life of citizens and the users of these technologies alike.
The key objectives of the AI group committee may include the following:
- To identify and analyze the environmental impacts (negative and positive impacts) of deploying and implementing AI and other emerging technologies, such as blockchain.
- To be a platform for facilitating global dialogue and raising awareness of the environmental impacts of AI and other emerging technologies.
- To assist relevant stakeholders in minimizing the global environmental impacts of operating AI and other emerging technologies by developing technical reports and technical specifications as needed.
- To develop a framework and a standardization approach to adopting AI and other emerging technologies in an environmentally sound manner.
- To benchmark best practices and describe pathways that could lead to international standards, and serve as guidance for operating AI and other emerging technologies in the future.
- To collaborate with stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, engineers, economists, developers, international and regional organizations, and academia, in evaluating the sustainability of different emerging technologies. The results will describe strategic directions for future standardization efforts in tackling the environmental impacts of these technologies.
- To write a report(s) on the FG activities on how to support the implementation of AI and other emerging technologies in a sustainable manner after the FG finished its work.