AI ‘will do more to boost fossil fuel production than green energy’
A new study suggests that AI's contribution to fossil fuel productivity will likely outweigh its climate benefits from renewable energy optimization. The research indicates that AI could increase carbon emissions by up to 1.8 gigatonnes annually by boosting oil and gas extraction efficiency.
Why it matters
This highlights a significant, often overlooked environmental cost of AI development that may undermine global decarbonization efforts.
Estimates suggest AI will create close to £370bn in cumulative value for fossil fuel companies between 2026 and 2030. Photograph: Alamy Estimates suggest AI will create close to £370bn in cumulative value for fossil fuel companies between 2026 and 2030. Photograph: Alamy AI (artificial intelligence) AI ‘will do more to boost fossil fuel production than green energy’ Study finds technology could boost recoverable oil and gas reserves by 5% and cut cost of deepwater projects by 10%
Prefer the Guardian on Google AI-driven productivity gains enable more planet-heating pollution from fossil fuels than they avoid from renewables, a study has found.
Researchers modelled the technical potential for AI to boost clean power generation along with projections for how it can help produce coal, oil and gas. Across 64 scenarios, they found net yearly carbon pollution rose by 0.47-1.8 gigatonnes, or about 1-5% of the energy sector’s annual emissions.
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