This February, Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco Systems since 2015, is visiting Austria for the first time ever. WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business) is delighted to announce that he will be taking part in a panel discussion entitled “Leading for a Sustainable Future” during his stay.

Cisco, one of the leading Silicon Valley IT companies, is famous for its network technologies. One of the declared goals of the group and its CEO Chuck Robbins is sustainability, which poses complex and multifaceted challenges, in particular for the IT industry.

Climate change vs. energy-hungry AI models

Resource scarcity, growing energy consumption, and increasing economic inequality all call for sustainable technological approaches and solutions, on the individual and global levels. Advanced digital technologies such as smart cities can be key to mastering these challenges. The powerful data analysis and problem-solving capabilities of artificial intelligence can help us to optimize resource consumption, predict environmental risks, and develop innovative concepts for green energy and sustainable infrastructures. At the same time, there are deep concerns regarding the environmental impact of these technologies. Training and operating complex AI models, for example, requires enormous amounts of energy, and there is a risk that biases in AI algorithms could make existing inequalities worse.

Discussing opportunities and risks

In an event moderated by Danijela Grubnic, Chuck Robbins will be joined by WU Rector Rupert Sausgruber, Kavita Surana, head of the WU Institute for Data, Energy, and Sustainability, and André Martinuzzi, head of the WU Institute for Managing Sustainability, to discuss the challenges and opportunities arising from the pursuit of a sustainable future. From the importance of environmentally friendly technologies to the responsibility of companies towards the global community, the discussion will cover a range of important topics.

The event will be held in English.

The seating capacity is very limited, so please be sure to sign up for the event at presse@wu.ac.at.

Sustainability Talk
Leading for a Sustainable Future

When: February 29, 2024, 10:30am
Where: Gallery, LC building, ground floor, WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business)