Impact AI
Evaluating the impact of AI for sustainability and public interest
Artificial intelligence (AI) presents significant opportunities to advance sustainability and serve the public interest. It can, for instance, assist in monitoring biodiversity, clearing the seabed of waste, and tracking carbon emissions. However, these promising capabilities come with challenges, including high energy and resource consumption. While AI holds great potential, fundamental questions remain: How sustainable are these systems? And how can their societal benefits be effectively assessed?
The research project Impact AI: Evaluating the social impact of AI systems for sustainability and the public interest addresses these questions. It examines AI projects oriented towards the public interest with a focus on sustainability and develops a transdisciplinary auditing method to evaluate their contribution to societal transformation and ecological sustainability. The goal is not only to make the social impact of AI systems measurable but also to identify concrete actions for their responsible use.
To bridge scientific analysis with practical applicability, the evaluation method developed will be made publicly available. This ensures that both trained experts and organisations can directly foster the auditing method. In this way, Impact AI contributes to strengthening the sustainable use of AI systems and enabling informed decisions for technologies that serve the public interest.
Method development and AI case studies
The research project analyses a total of 15 AI initiatives from different application areas in order to systematically assess their social and ecological impacts. The aim is to develop a robust evaluation methodology that reveals the potential, strengths and limitations of AI projects to contribute to the public interest and sustainability. To this end, three case studies will be conducted each year to test and iteratively develop the model. The methodology combines a scientific basis with practical applicability and follows a multi-stage approach:
 | Development of an auditing methodology: An evaluation model is being developed in collaboration with the partner organisations. It is aimed specifically at AI projects that want to make a contribution to sustainability and the public interest. |
 | Practical application: Organisations that want to use AI to contribute to the public interest are to receive targeted support. They should be able to carry out evaluations on their own or, if necessary, have them carried out by trained experts. |
 | Evidence-based results: The findings will be prepared for decision-makers in politics, business, and civil society, providing a solid foundation for developing sustainable and public-interest-oriented AI practices. |
Case studies 2025
The first three case studies focus on the use of AI to support democratic processes. The focus is on the question of how AI technologies can contribute to this - for example by promoting equality, supporting social discourse, making information more accessible or making the handling of public funds more transparent. The final selection of the projects analysed will be announced shortly.
Laura State, PhDPostdoctoral researcher: Impact AI
Lena WinterResearcher: Impact AI
Sadiem YoussefStudent assistant: Impact AI
Theresa Züger, Dr.Lead AI & Society Lab, Project-Lead Impact AI
Edited works
Ashgari, H. & Züger, T. (Eds.) (2025). Proceedings of the 2nd Workshop on Public Interest AI (PI-AI 2024). Würzburg, Germany: CEUR-WS. Publication details
ifok & Make.org (Eds.). (2025). Roundtable Synthesis Report AI & Democracy. Exploring the democratic challenges, risks and opportunities brought by generative AI systems [Special issue]. Roundtables on AI & Democracy - ifok x Make.org. Publication details
Lectures and presentations
Auswirkungen von Künstlicher Intelligenz auf die internationale Kultur- und BildungsarbeitGoethe-Institut. Goethe-Institut e.V.. Amerikahaus, Munich, Germany: 26.05.2025
Theresa Züger
Panels
Public AI – Digitale Infrastruktur für das Gemeinwohl neu denkenre:publica 25: Generation XYZ. re:publica 2025. STATION Berlin, Berlin, Germany: 27.05.2025 Further information
Theresa Züger
KI und Gemeinwohl – Wie passt das zusammen?Leipziger Buchmesse. Forum Mensch und KI. Leipziger Messegelände, Leipzig, Germany: 30.03.2025 Further information
Theresa Züger
Project consortium
The Impact AI research project is conducted by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) in collaboration with Greenpeace and Economy for the Common Good.
HIIG takes on the coordination and scientific leadership of the project, developing the evaluation methodology in consultation with the partner organisations. Both partners contribute their expertise in sustainability and public-interest evaluation, as well as their practical experience in assessing these fields. Greenpeace brings extensive expertise in environmental and climate issues, including the evaluation of technological environmental impacts. Meanwhile, Economy for the Common Good contributes its knowledge of sustainable economic models and public-interest-oriented business evaluation.
Funding
| Duration: | 2025 to 2029 |
| Funding: | VolkswagenStiftung as part of the Change! Fellowship programme |
Titelbild: David Clode via unsplash
Theresa Züger, Dr.
AI & Society Lab
