AI Isn't Just Extracting More Fossil Fuels—It's Unlocking Renewable Energy Too

Although artificial intelligence is drawing criticism for its energy use, it's also being used by firms such as ExxonMobil and BP to unleash new energy production. The research firm Wood Mackenzie even estimates that AI could unlock 1 trillion extra barrels of oil globally by helping companies "wring substantially more oil out of producing reservoirs."

These developments are good news for consumers, but they could have a significant impact on the environment, according to an August paper published in npj Climate Action. The authors find that AI could prolong oil and gas usage, leading to a 0.47–1.8 gigaton increase in annual global carbon dioxide emissions. The lower end of that estimate is comparable to Mexico's annual carbon dioxide emissions, study co-author Holly Alpine told The Wall Street Journal. The higher end is equivalent to about 5 percent of the world's energy emissions from 2024.

The researchers say net emissions reductions cannot occur unless renewables grow four to five times faster than oil and gas. (They do note there are other ways AI could reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of the fossil fuel industry—namely, "methane leak detection or efficiency gains in power generation.") … [Subscribe to continue reading]