Background

The use of artificial intelligence promises significant ecological and economic effects for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as for public administration. Generative AI in particular can reduce manual, paper-based, and time-consuming routine tasks, thereby lowering both resource consumption and personnel requirements. Against the backdrop of the growing shortage of skilled workers and ongoing funding programmes, for example within initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the question of measurable efficiency and sustainability effects is becoming increasingly important. The aim of this thesis is to systematically analyse the ecological and economic effects of AI-supported solutions and to identify their potential and limitations for small and medium-sized enterprises, taking into account practical application examples and current research activities.