Turning Profit into Sustainability: Evidence on Artificial Intelligence, Education, and Ecological Footprint

Abstract

This paper examines how profit relates to ecological footprint intensity and how the link is shaped by artificial intelligence capability and education quality. We analyze 53,081 firm year observations from 15 innovation-leading economies during 2003-2022 using system GMM. The findings reveal that (i) profitability is associated with lower footprint intensity (ii) artificial intelligence capability is associated with higher footprint intensity and weakens the footprint-reducing effect of profitability, while education quality is associated with lower intensity and strengthens that channel, (iii) the joint effect of profitability, AI capability, and education quality increases footprint intensity. The findings speak to responsible production and climate action agendas. The study findings indicate that the interactions between profitability, artificial intelligence capability, and education quality have a multi-layered structure in terms of environmental sustainability. In line with sustainable development goals, recommendations focus on subjecting artificial intelligence investments to mandatory environmental impact assessments, and aligning education systems with sustainable production and environmental responsibility awareness.