28 Oct 2025
A paper titled “Harmonizing the Quartet: The Symphony of Edge Computing, Cognitive Computing, Bionic Technology, and Generative AI in Orchestrating Sustainable Business Futures”, co-authored by Dr Cheng Xu of the International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and collaborators, has been accepted by and published in Sustainable Development, a Tier 1* journal. The study analyses the collaborative mechanism of the “Quartet”, comprising edge computing, cognitive computing, bionic technology, and generative AI, offers practical solutions for enterprises, policymakers, and other stakeholders, and clarifies how cutting-edge technologies can drive sustainable transformation in the business sector.
As the foundational support of the Quartet, edge computing processes data on-site via IoT devices, reducing energy consumption by 30%-40% compared with traditional cloud-centric models. Manufacturing enterprises can use it for real-time equipment monitoring to minimise waste; in agriculture, edge-enabled drones enable precise regulation of water and fertiliser, helping alleviate food shortages, reduce carbon emissions, and lower enterprises’ reliance on energy-intensive data centers to advance net-zero goals. Cognitive computing, which simulates human cognition through machine learning, assists enterprises in predicting market trends and risks. For example, retail giants like Walmart have used it to optimise inventory, cutting overstock and food waste by 20%-25%. In healthcare, it supports personalised treatment plans and extends equipment lifespan, while also underpinning ethical AI governance to ensure carbon footprints and other sustainability metrics are integrated into decision-making.
Drawing inspiration from nature, bionic technology enables enterprises to develop energy-efficient products. For instance, automotive companies like BMW use bionic materials to enhance electric vehicle range and reduce the environmental impact of raw material extraction. In smart city development, bionic sensors that mimic plant stress responses dynamically adjust lighting and HVAC systems for efficient energy use. Crucially, bionic technology promotes the circular economy, reducing e-waste and protecting biodiversity. Generative AI rapidly proposes solutions: architects use generative models to design eco-friendly building layouts, optimising natural lighting and ventilation to cut energy consumption by 15%-20%; in the fashion industry, brands such as Adidas leverage it for customized, on-demand production to reduce overproduction and textile waste. When combined with other technologies, generative AI delivers greater value—for example, integrating with edge computing to reduce cloud dependency, or merging with bionic technology to design new energy devices.
Overall, the Quartet establishes a new model for sustainable business. Enterprises adopting this system can improve operational efficiency by 10%-15% to reduce costs and enhance stakeholder value. In logistics, for example, companies such as DHL have deployed "edge-cognitive" hybrid systems to optimise routes, used bionic drones for delivery, and applied generative AI for demand forecasting, significantly cutting fuel consumption and carbon emissions. However, practical challenges remain, such as data privacy protection, AI ethical biases, and talent gaps, which require enterprises to implement training programmes and ensure compliance.
Looking ahead, enterprises can form interdisciplinary teams to pilot the Quartet through small-scale projects, while policymakers can encourage adoption via green subsidies. This technological system not only boosts corporate profitability but also aligns economic growth with ecological health, helping build a resilient and equitable future. By embracing the Quartet, enterprises can translate sustainability concepts into action and turn technological innovation into a force for global change.
Dr Cheng Xu focuses on AI-driven Sustainable Development. A core member of the Big Data Analytics and Modelling Research Centre at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and an adjunct lecturer in Business Analytics Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dr Xu engages students in examining the sweeping changes precipitated by AI in contemporary markets and corporate landscapes.
His scholarship, which includes work recognized as an ESI Global Highly Cited publication, has been published in well-regarded international journals such as Social Science and Medicine (ABS 4), Journal of Business Ethics (FT 50), Journal of Accounting Literature (ABS 3), International Review of Financial Analysis (ABS 3), Journal of Business Research (ABS 3), International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (CCF B), Business Strategy and the Environment (ABS 3), Pacific-Basin Finance Journal (ABDC-A), Journal of Innovation and Knowledge (ABDC-A), Global Finance Journal (ABDC-A), and Journal of Economic Psychology (ABDC-A). He has also received recognition for his contributions, including the China Family Business Highest Award on two occasions, the Mao Lixiang Family Business Research Award, and the Wiley China High Contribution Author Award.
Dr Xu actively serves in editorial capacities that bridge the social and natural sciences, including Associate Editorships at Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (CAS Humanities Q1 & JCR Q1). He contributes to the Neuroeconomic Management Committee as an executive member under the China Society of Technology Economics, a leading academic society in China.
Prior to his Ph.D., Dr Xu amassed industry experience, acting as a strategy manager and CEO’s special assistant at Beijing Science Park Development Group—operator of the Zhongguancun Science Parks—and as a senior investment manager for multinational real estate funds. He was involved in multimillion-dollar M&A and investment projects, and as a strategy and management consultant he advised firms such as Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Beijing Tourism Development Committee, China Communications Construction Group, and Beijing Airport Economic Development Co., Ltd. Earlier in his career, Dr Xu worked part-time in luxury retail at Tokyo, New York, London and Shanghai, gaining cultural insight and consumer knowledge that inform his research.
Sustainable Development is a Tier 1* journal with an impact factor of 8.19. Focusing on the integration of technology, the economy, and other fields with sustainable development, the journal publishes research with solid theoretical foundations, rigorous methodologies, and practical significance. It provides references for practitioners worldwide and plays a crucial role in addressing global issues such as climate change and resource scarcity.
28 Oct 2025