What if computers forget?

Computing systems are designed to store data indefinitely, in contrast to human cognition where forgetting is an important and dynamic process. At scale, data forgetting could emerge as a disruptive sustainability-oriented optimization, enabling system-level efficiency gains while structurally reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint, rather than shifting impacts through rebound effects. This talk explores data forgetting as a system-level principle in which forgetting would be the default behavior. By relying on building mental models of data, progressive data degradation techniques, and data recovery mechanisms, data forgetting enables new optimization opportunities, improved storage efficiency, and better support for sustainability.