The AI ESG protocol: Evaluating and disclosing the environment, social, and governance implications of artificial intelligence capabilities, assets, and activities

Abstract

AI and data are key strategic resources and enablers of the digital transition. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data are also intimately related to a company's environment, social, and governance (ESG) performance and the generation of sustainability related impacts. These impacts are increasingly scrutinized by markets and other stakeholders, as ESG performance impacts both valuation and risk assessments. It impacts an entity's potential to contribute to good, but it also relates to risks concerning, for example, alignment with current and coming regulations and frameworks. There is currently limited information on and a lack of a unified approach to AI and ESG and a need for tools for systematically assessing and disclosing the ESG related impacts of AI and data capabilities. I here propose the AI ESG protocol, which is a flexible high-level tool for evaluating and disclosing such impacts, engendering increased awareness of impacts, better AI governance, and stakeholder communication.

Keywords: ESG, AI, data, big data, reporting, sustainability