Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly integral part of digital learning systems. While it is improving the personalisation of courses, it is also raising major questions about its environmental impact.
Training teams are faced with a dilemma between increasing performance expectations and the environmental impact of new technologies. So how can practices be changed to combine educational performance and digital sobriety?
Here are 5 ways of integrating AI into your training strategy without sacrificing your ethical and environmental values.
1. Apply eco-design principles to training content
Producing optimised content and limiting the use of ultra-HD videos reduces the bandwidth and therefore the energy needed to broadcast it.
This means reviewing formats, distribution frequency and accessibility.
At the same time, reducing electronic waste (in particular by extending the lifespan of terminals) completes the responsible approach.
2. Questioning the real added value of AI
When a customer asks us if we are integrating AI into our LMS, we first ask them what use they want to make of it. Very often, solutions already exist. This is the case for the principle of Adaptive Learning, for example.
That’s why it’s really important to question the added value of AI: what does AI enable here that I can’t do any other way?
3. Choose infrastructures powered by renewable energies
The water and electricity consumption of the servers hosting the training platforms is a critical factor.
To reduce the climate impact of AI technologies, it is essential to choose cloud partners that use renewable energy and incorporate AI environmental monitoring systems.
This is also a good way of structuring solid company-wide sustainability initiatives.
4. Design eco-responsible algorithms and measure their impact
Integrating AI into an LMS or a skills management tool means working at the source: the algorithm.
An eco-responsible algorithm consumes fewer resources, is designed to adapt intelligently to needs without overstretching systems, and respects the principles of ethical AI governance.
Measurement tools can track data transparency and ensure ethical use of AI at every stage.
Integrating the reasoned use of AI is no longer an option
For training managers, integrating the reasoned use of AI into digital learning systems is no longer an option. It is part of a global drive to optimise energy resources, reduce carbon footprints and achieve a responsible digital transformation.
As Lina Hamed (Caramel Consulting & Super Egg) reminds us: “The human brain is 1000 times more powerful than the best GPU, and consumes 10 times less! So let’s think about how we use AI!
Solutions for moderate use of AI do exist. And well managed sustainability initiatives can be powerful levers for improving the overall impact of training.