TL;DR:
- Schneider Electric integrates AI to simplify emissions data management and enhance sustainability understanding.
- Research highlights the industry’s need for improved emissions measurement and precise data for net-zero goals.
- Resource Advisor Copilot, powered by OpenAI LLM, offers rapid access to vital sustainability and energy information.
- Data collection methods include smart meters, invoices, and client submissions, enabling tailored industry-specific responses.
- Robust data security measures and built-in guardrails ensure the protection of proprietary and client data.
Main AI News:
In the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainability management, enterprises are racing to decipher the complexities of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and align their strategies with the elusive scopes 1, 2, and 3. However, a considerable number of executives find themselves perplexed by these terms, creating a knowledge gap that hinders progress. Schneider Electric, a pioneering force in energy management, has taken a momentous step towards bridging this gap. The company has seamlessly integrated generative artificial intelligence (AI) into its cloud-based Resource Advisor platform, ushering in a new era of streamlined emissions data management and providing vital sustainability insights to decision-makers.
Recent research, conducted in collaboration with Reuters and GE, sheds light on the industry’s pressing needs. An impressive 59% of industry experts acknowledge the potential for enhancement in emissions measurement and reporting processes. Furthermore, over half of the respondents underline the indispensability of precise data in achieving net-zero emissions objectives.
Schneider Electric’s Resource Advisor Copilot, empowered by an OpenAI Large Language Model (LLM), emerged from concept to beta testing readiness in a mere four months. Jeffrey Willert, Senior Data Manager at Schneider Electric, characterizes this journey as a “whirlwind” of innovation. Copilot is poised to become available later this year or early next year for the 2,500 customers already leveraging Schneider Electric’s Resource Advisor platform, seamlessly complementing their existing capabilities.
A Dive into the Data Abyss
Jessica Kipper, Senior Director of Software Project Management at Schneider Electric, provides valuable insights into the platform’s distinctive features. She emphasizes its unique ability to collect data from diverse sources and harness it for in-depth analytics and insights, consolidating information for meaningful action. Schneider Electric has established various pathways for data to enter the system, including smart meters, utility invoices, and client data submissions. Yet, as Jeffrey Willert highlights, the essence of Copilot lies in its ability to comprehend user queries and utilize internal tools to access relevant data.
Copilot was designed to address pivotal questions, including inquiries about total emissions across all facilities, monthly natural gas consumption, changes in energy usage, and monthly energy expenditures. Given Schneider Electric’s global footprint, the integration with Large Language Models ensures tailored responses for industry-specific applications. As Willert aptly points out, having an emissions calculator is valuable, but its true significance lies in enabling actionable insights.
Data Security at the Core
Copilot is built on a foundation of Microsoft Azure OpenAI integration, with Schneider Electric emphasizing that no fine-tuning or LLM training was conducted. This approach, according to Willert, is a deliberate choice aimed at safeguarding both proprietary information and client data. Behind-the-scenes data handling ensures that sensitive information remains protected.
In addition to stringent data security measures, Copilot incorporates built-in guardrails to ensure that clients’ queries revolve around energy and sustainability topics, preventing any potential misuse. Leveraging retrieval augmented generation (RAG), a popular method in the genAI realm, Schneider Electric ensures that client data always remains within its control.
Conclusion:
Schneider Electric’s integration of AI and OpenAI LLM into its Resource Advisor platform marks a significant leap forward in sustainability management. By addressing the industry’s need for precise emissions data and actionable insights, Schneider Electric positions itself as a trailblazer in the market, offering businesses a powerful tool to navigate the complex terrain of environmental stewardship and sustainability. This move has the potential to drive a market shift towards more intelligent and data-driven sustainability practices, benefiting both organizations and the environment.
