How we prioritize clean air in an AI-powered world

Smoking has long been recognized as hazardous – no parent would encourage it for their child for a long and healthy life. Yet, few realize that air pollution has now surpassed tobacco and poor diet as a leading cause of death.

With technological advancements accelerating and wildfires intensifying due to deforestation and rising global temperatures, are we dedicating enough attention to how innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) can help safeguard clean air and other vital resources for the future?

Coupa and NationSwell are launching the Equal Air Collaborative to bring together leaders from across sectors to champion solutions to combat air pollution, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or where they live, has access to clean air and essential natural resources and we are looking for other innovators to join us.

Every year, air pollution contributes to more than 10 million deaths globally. Ninety-nine percent of us are exposed but some are more vulnerable to the health consequences or are over-exposed. For example, low-income and indigenous communities, children and older adults all experience greater pollution damage to their lungs and overall health.

Despite shifts toward more sustainable processes and electric vehicles, the US Environmental Protection Agency reported that the combined emissions from industry, electric power and transportation contribute 76% of carbon air pollution.

In addition, increased wildfires, caused by excessive deforestation and rising planetary temperatures are creating untenable levels of smoke. This is a global issue as air particles move across borders, disproportionately affecting lower-income families more likely to live near highways and factories, exposing them to a greater risk of illness.

We need innovation to ensure everyone has access to clean air.

Coupa is an AI native, industry-leading total spend management platform for businesses seeking to address the clean air emergency.

In addition to their net zero carbon and climate reduction goals (validated by the Science Based Targets initiative), in 2022, Coupa launched the Equal Air Project in partnership with Earth Watch, Sustainable Silicon Valley and Yale School of Public Health. Coupa volunteers placed specialized sensors across the San Francisco Bay Area to test and monitor air quality.

Yale School of Public Health monitored and analyzed two months of data to better understand local-level exposures. The results proved that the quality of the air we breathe differs dramatically by zip code.

Why should businesses such as Coupa address access to clean air? Because it makes business sense.

Skilled, reliable talent is hard to find but if employees breathe polluted air they are more likely to get sick and experience reduced cognitive performance. Globally, 1.2 billion workdays are lost due to air pollution, projected to reach 3.8 billion days by 2060.

As billions of dollars are pumped into AI development, we should consider how these powerful new tools can solve systemic issues, some of which are completely unknown – so-called hidden pollutants. Car tyres, for example, are a highly dangerous pollutant that governments have yet to regulate.

AI and big data can help us create inventive new ways to monitor and understand emissions. For example, a Penn State-led research team used AI and mobility data to improve the accuracy of air pollution predictive models by an average of 17.5%, allowing for more targeted interventions and mitigation for vulnerable areas.

This type of improved modelling could make a significant impact when used at scale in industries.

Dr Krystal Pollitt at the Yale School of Public Health has created a wristband that allows individuals to understand their exposure to environmental chemicals around them utiizing AI.

However, while AI and other technology can significantly increase the monitoring and detection of air molecules, it can also negatively impact air quality if we don’t consider the entire life cycle of its development.

What’s more, the rapid expansion of data centres and energy use are leading some to warn of an oncoming energy crisis in the United States. China offers us insight into what this means for the air we breathe – studies show that increases in electricity consumption are associated with decreases in the air quality index.

As AI becomes an evermore integrated presence in every aspect of our lives, particularly in business, members of this community need to consider how their AI-powered products and services influence the air being breathed every day by their employees, partners and customers.

We invite you to join the Equal Air Collaborative for a conversation on “The Bottom Line: Collective Action for Clean Air” on 23 April to learn more and discuss solutions for a more responsible path forward.