On March 18 and 19, Obvia held a conference dedicated to the theme of digital sufficiency and the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence. The event brought together an interdisciplinary community of researchers, practitioners and partners engaged with these issues.
Over the course of two days, the event stood out for the richness of its discussions, the diversity of perspectives shared and the commitment of participants to continuing the conversation. Panels, presentations and forward-looking workshops provided an opportunity to collectively explore the conditions for a more responsible digital ecosystem—one that respects planetary boundaries while contributing to social justice.
Four key areas of reflection structured the discussions:
Strategic Management of Digital Projects
Discussions highlighted several key principles for guiding the management of digital projects. First, it is important to begin with actual and expressed needs, then examine all available options (both technical and non-technical) to ensure that digital technologies or AI are only used when they are truly relevant. In such cases, clear deployment guidelines should be established before any optimization process begins. Discussions also emphasized the importance of designing systems at the appropriate scale and in a targeted manner, in order to limit unintended consequences and rebound effects.
Prioritizing Uses
Creating spaces for collective deliberation is essential to guide decision-making around digital technologies. At the organizational, municipal and provincial levels, these spaces make it possible to identify uses considered useful or essential, while questioning those from which it may be desirable to move away. This approach paves the way for more democratic technology governance.
Deprivatization and the Emergence of Digital Alternatives
Discussions explored the public recovery of key infrastructures, such as data centres, from a perspective of sovereignty, as well as the development of digital commons that enable solutions based on collaboration rather than market accumulation. The potential of public-common partnerships was also highlighted, particularly when public institutions invest in infrastructures while entrusting their governance to collective bodies.
Technological Downscaling
Adopting a technological downscaling approach is becoming increasingly necessary in response to the growing impacts of digital technologies. This involves stronger regulation of harmful AI uses and systems that are incompatible with the socio-ecological transition. Particular attention was given to pursuing simplicity and relying on lower-intensity technological solutions when they adequately meet identified needs.
Obvia would like to warmly thank all those who contributed to the success of this event: the panelists, members of the scientific committee, the Obvia operational team, as well as HEC Montréal for hosting the event. We also extend our thanks to all participants and to our funding partners, including the Fonds de recherche du Québec and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
This conference underscores the importance of continuing collective reflection on the future directions of digital technologies. The discussions initiated during the event will continue in the coming months to help shape actions that can be implemented today.
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