On September 25, members of the CEOs for Sustainability network gathered at the Fairmont Pittsburgh to discuss a timely question: How can artificial intelligence (AI) support sustainability and how do we ensure it is done responsibly?
Setting the Stage
The evening began with opening remarks from Albrecht Powell, managing director at Accenture’s Pittsburgh Office and governance chair of the CEOs for Sustainability executive network. He reminded the audience that for this network, sustainability is not an abstract value but a driver of economic performance and innovation. It means running leaner operations, reducing energy, water, and waste costs, managing climate risks, and delivering equitable benefits for employees and communities.
Powell noted that Pittsburgh is firmly in the national spotlight as one of the world’s leading AI hubs, with local leaders already applying AI to improve efficiency, resilience, and innovation. But he cautioned that the region’s advantage will only last if it is scaled responsibly. The choices made today around energy use, workforce impacts, and governance will shape not just Pittsburgh’s competitiveness, but also its role as a model for sustainable AI adoption.
Stories from the Panel
Deepak Nayyar, executive vice president and chief innovation officer at Pittsburgh International Airport, opened with the airport’s guiding motto — nature, technology, and community — and how it has shaped their redesign efforts. Nayyar explained how AI is being used to reduce the time airplanes spend taxiing to save fuel, streamline baggage sorting for passengers, and cut turnaround times to limit wasted energy. Through xBridge, PIT’s innovation center, the airport also provides a proving ground for new AI solutions from passenger navigation tools to infrastructure monitoring with robotics. Nayyar noted that efficiency gains at this scale reduce emissions, save money, and deliver value to the wider community. Yet he also underscored the regulatory and ethical challenges airports face: innovation must move quickly, but never at the expense of safety, compliance, or public trust.
Jennifer Apicella, executive director of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, emphasized Pittsburgh’s global position as one of the top three AI hubs alongside Boston and San Francisco. She warned, however, that the region risks underestimating AI’s impact. A recent survey by her organization found that while most respondents believe AI will change others’ lives, few think it will change their own. That disconnect, she argued, is dangerous. If Pittsburgh is to remain competitive, it must embrace AI, invest in local technologies, and ensure benefits extend to workers and communities. Apicella pointed to the “triple helix” model — collaboration among government, research, and industry — as essential for ensuring AI is scaled responsibly. She also stressed the importance of building local partnerships, such as grid resiliency projects with utility companies, to prepare for the strain that data centers place on energy infrastructure. Without these steps, Pittsburgh could lose its global edge.
Brett Phillips, chief development officer at Hellbender, shared how the company emerged as a leader in on-edge AI hardware. By manufacturing under one roof and processing on the edge rather than the cloud, Hellbender reduces materials, transportation costs, and energy demand. Phillips highlighted that hardware innovation is critical for ensuring AI growth is sustainable, both environmentally and economically. On-edge systems not only lower costs and improve efficiency, they also mitigate national security concerns. But he cautioned that the rush to build new data centers could lead to stranded assets if businesses do not think critically about long-term sustainability.
Balancing Opportunity and Responsibility
As the discussion unfolded, panelists and attendees returned to a central theme: AI presents enormous opportunities for efficiency and innovation, but it must be adopted with a sustainability mindset. They highlighted the need to:
- Strengthen infrastructure to handle growing energy demands without overburdening the grid, through solutions like microgrids, smarter energy use, and local partnerships.
- Navigate regulatory and ethical considerations carefully, especially in public-facing environments where safety and trust are paramount.
- Prepare the workforce for change, ensuring AI adoption supports employees rather than leaving them behind.
- Avoid politicization. Sustainability has already been slowed by political divides, and AI could face the same fate if it becomes mired in partisan battles.
The evening closed with a networking reception at fl.2, a Gold-designated Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant, where panelists and attendees continued the discussion. Conversations carried the same urgency expressed on stage: AI can be a transformative tool for sustainability but Pittsburgh must get this moment right by scaling responsibly, equitably, and with long-term resilience in mind.
As one panelist summed it up, “It may cost a lot to invest in AI today, but it may cost even more not to.”