2025加速节俭型AI生态系统构建白皮书

White Paper | November 2025 CONTENTS Executive Summary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 72Why Is the AI Compute Stack Expensive and Often Not Profitable ----------------------- 82.1 Massive Compute and Infrastructure Expenditure2.2 Hardware Limitations and Vendor Lock-in2.3 Software Complexity and Maintenance2.4 Token-Based Pricing and Output Costs2.5 Model Size and Compute Requirements2.6 Cloud Compute Pricing Schemes2.7 Bandwidth and Storage Overheads2.8 Unsustainable Burn Rate and Lack of Optimisation3Key AI Startup Failure Drivers --------------------------------------------------------------------- 124The Frugal AI Technical Stack: Architecture for Cost-Efficient, Scalable AI ------------ 134.1 The Frugal AI Stack4.2 Quantitative Comparison between Traditional and Frugal AI Stacks4.2.1 Average Cost Savings4.2.2 Energy Footprint4.2.3 Scalability Metrics5Security Implications Across the Frugal AI Stack --------------------------------------------- 226The Socio-Economic Stack for Frugal AI -------------------------------------------------------- 257Sustainability ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 298Key Startups and Platforms in the Frugal AI Stack / Examples --------------------------- 319The Frugal AI Ecosystem and Observatory ---------------------------------------------------- 3510Further Research ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3711Conclusion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38References ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40 Thenext wave of innovation will not bemeasured by model size or compute power,but by reach, responsibility, and resilience. Frugal AI builds on this idea. It is a mindsetthattransforms scarcity into strength andcomplexity into clarity. Byaligning efficiency with inclusion andsustainability, Frugal AI offers a blueprint forprogress that endures. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Dr Arjuna SathiaseelanVisiting Fellow, Cambridge Judge Business School | Co-Founder, Flipped.ai Arjuna is the CEO and Co-Founder of Flipped.ai and a Fellow at Cambridge JudgeBusiness School. Formerly Head of the Networking for Development Lab at theUniversity of Cambridge, he led research on expanding Internet access forunderserved communities. A recognised expert in inclusive connectivity, hefounded the IRTF GAIA research group and has advised global initiatives such asthe UN Foundation’s Digital Impact Alliance. Serish Venkata GandikotaCo-Founder & Co-Director, Frugal AI Hub | Visiting Fellow, Cambridge JudgeBusiness SchoolSerish is an innovation strategist, impact & climate fund adviser, entrepreneur, and researcher focused on frugal innovation, sustainability, impact investing, andinclusive technology. As Co-Director of the Frugal AI Hub at Cambridge JudgeBusiness School, he works at the intersection of AI, systems thinking, and socialimpact. He has over a decade of experience designing and delivering frugalinnovation programs across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and has been involved inHorizon 2020 and EU-backed initiatives on citizen science, sustainability, andimpact investing. Serish is also the co-founder of InnoFrugal, a platform advancingaffordable and resource-efficient innovation globally. Elizabeth Osta Co-Founder & Co-Director, Frugal AI Hub | Visiting Fellow, Cambridge JudgeBusiness SchoolElizabeth is a digital and data strategist and advisor working with boards and CXOs oninnovation, data and AI strategy and digital transformation. As Co-Director of the Frugal AI Hub and founder of Digital Forward, she focuses onadvancing inclusive and sustainable AI practices across sectors. Previously,Elizabeth served as Chief Data Officer at HEINEKEN, leading data transformationacross 80 countries. She has held leadership roles at Barclays, dunnhumby,Gillette, McKinsey, and Social Finance, where she explored the use of data tosupport vulnerable populations. Elizabeth also serves as a non-executive advisorto several fintech startups and is a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge Judge BusinessSchool. Professor of Marketing, Cambridge Judge Business School | Co-Director,Centre for India and Global Business Jaideep is the Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Indian Business & Enterprise atCambridge Judge Business School and Co-Director of the Centre for India &Global Business. He is also a Fellow of the British Academy. His work on frugalinnovation explores how firms, governments, and societies can do more with less.He is the co-author of Jugaad Innovation and Frugal Innovation (The Economist,2015), and author of How Should a Government Be? (PublicAffairs, 2021), whichexamines how agile, enabling, and collaborative states can foster innova