At the "Special Seminar on Industrial Application of Artificial Intelligence," held as part of the China Development Forum 2026 from March 22 to March 23, George Oliver, CEO of Johnson Controls, stated that while scientific progress is accelerating, leading to rapid development in AI-driven human biology for new drug research, AI factories, data centers, and chip technology, it also presents challenges in energy consumption and carbon emissions. Data centers are major consumers of energy and significant sources of carbon emissions, while the energy required for new biopharmaceutical production is five to seven times greater than traditional levels.
Furthermore, the production of new pharmaceuticals requires precise control of mission-critical parameters such as temperature, humidity, and airborne particulate levels. Therefore, there is an urgent need for high-efficiency solutions to optimize indoor environment management and meet production demands. Johnson Controls' various technologies can be widely applied across different environmental management scenarios.
Oliver emphasized that the key to addressing these challenges lies in leveraging AI technology to achieve efficient energy management in critical mission and ecological operating environments, which presents substantial opportunities.
He noted that Johnson Controls continues to collaborate closely with data centers in China and globally, while also partnering with other technology providers. Achieving goals such as improved energy efficiency and halving energy consumption requires cross-organizational collaboration, which is not easy. Human and institutional leaders must take proactive steps, demonstrate leadership, guide their teams, and mobilize support—this is where human action can positively impact the real world.
Oliver particularly stressed the indispensable role of humans in the process of technology application. Systems designed by Johnson Controls are not intended to replace employees but to enhance human capabilities, ensuring that people maintain a guiding and directive role within organizations. This approach helps reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency while safeguarding human jobs and value.
In conclusion, Oliver summarized key points for AI application. He stated that the core value of AI lies in collaborating with humans to fully realize its technological potential. Whether within an enterprise or a client organization, the "last mile" of AI application always depends on human involvement. Business leaders can either act as enablers or obstacles to technology adoption. Therefore, they must proactively learn to define the boundaries and potential of AI. Continuous learning is essential to better unlock the value of artificial intelligence.