Schneider Electric has announced a new multi-year initiative to develop an integrated ecosystem for sustainability and energy management, centred on emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The effort will focus on deploying what the company refers to as “Agentic AI”—a software model designed to operate autonomously or in collaboration with users to manage complex systems in real time.
The initiative seeks to embed these AI agents into adaptive workflows that work alongside human experts and enterprise systems. The goal is to improve coordination and efficiency across traditionally siloed sustainability efforts and to support more data-driven decision-making in corporate decarbonisation strategies.
“This technology allows us to create a force multiplier effect where complex data analysis and tasks are automated, freeing our clients to focus on strategic initiatives,” said Steve Wilhite, president of Schneider Electric’s sustainability business division.
Julien Picaud has been appointed to lead the product management efforts for the initiative. He will oversee integration of features from Schneider’s existing platforms along with capabilities acquired through the company’s recent purchase of climate consultancy EcoAct. These features include tools for emissions management, decarbonisation planning, climate risk analysis, and data automation.
The platform is being designed with a focus on computational efficiency. Dan Whitsell, chief technology officer for the sustainability business division, said the company aims to implement “frugal AI” principles—emphasising low-resource algorithms and infrastructure—to reduce energy use, emissions, and operating costs associated with large-scale AI systems.
Industry analyst Amy Cravens of IDC noted that AI’s effectiveness in sustainability applications hinges on domain-specific expertise. “Guided by decades of experience, Schneider Electric is creating an AI ecosystem that sets a new standard for sustainability management,” she said. The announcement builds on Schneider Electric’s previous work in AI-enabled solutions, which includes AI-powered analytics platforms and a strategic partnership with Nvidia to enhance the efficiency of data centre operations.
