AI ‘will do more to boost fossil fuel production than green energy’

A study published in Nature Communications found that AI-driven productivity gains will boost fossil fuel production more than they will aid renewable energy, increasing net annual carbon pollution by 0.47-1.8 gigatonnes, or about 1-5% of the energy sector's yearly emissions. The research, which modeled 64 scenarios, projects that AI could boost recoverable oil and gas reserves by 5% and cut the cost of deepwater projects by 10%, leading to more planet-heating pollution than it avoids from renewables.

AI ‘will do more to boost fossil fuel production than green energy’ By Ajit NiranjanSource: The Guardian Technology https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology Study finds technology could boost recoverable oil and gas reserves by 5% and cut cost of deepwater projects by 10% AI-driven productivity gains enable more planet-heating pollution from fossil fuels than they avoid from renewables, a study https://www.nature.com/articles/s44168-026-00411-0 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. Continue reading... https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/11/ai-will-do-more-to-boost-fossil-fuel-production-than-green-energy Get AI news in your inbox Daily digest of what matters in AI.