Beyond the Green Promises: the Critical Test of Hyperscalers’ Leadership in the AI Era

Generative AI has moved from an experimental tool to a core enterprise engine, unlocking business value across the entire IT stack. Yet every new parameter-rich model brings a heavy sustainability price tag: soaring electricity draw, intensified cooling loads, and water usage that stretches local resources. The very clouds that promise digital transformation risk casting a shadow over global net-zero goals.

In this Viewpoint, Everest Group unpacks the contradiction. We trace how exponential AI workloads are stress-testing hyperscalers’ original green growth pledges, such as 100 percent renewable energy, water-positive campuses, circular hardware, placing these commitments at a pivotal phase of execution and accountability.

Beyond this, this Viewpoint focuses on future opportunities. Hyperscalers, based on their scale and influence, hold immense power to reset ambitions and raise the bar for sustainable growth. We examine how hyperscalers are already investing in next-generation technologies that can improve energy and resource efficiency, as well as how they can do more in the future.

Ultimately, this Viewpoint offers a forward-thinking playbook for technology providers and enterprises navigating the intersection of AI and sustainability. By turning intent into impact, hyperscalers, their ecosystems, and enterprises can work together to drive responsible innovation that not only meets the moment but defines the next era of cloud leadership.