{
  "id": 552369,
  "title": "AI ‘will do more to boost fossil fuel production than green energy’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/ai-will-do-more-to-boost-fossil-fuel-production-than-green-energy",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-11T09:15:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Technology",
    "slug": "guardian-technology",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/11/ai-will-do-more-to-boost-fossil-fuel-production-than-green-energy"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study reveals that artificial intelligence's productivity gains in fossil fuel extraction, such as coal, oil, and gas, could lead to more greenhouse gas emissions than the environmental benefits achieved through AI applications in renewable energy sources. Researchers modeled 64 scenarios to quantify AI's impact on the entire power sector and found that net yearly carbon pollution could rise by 0.47-1.8 gigatonnes, or approximately 1-5% of the energy sector's annual emissions. The study is the first to quantify AI's climate impact across all aspects of the power industry. Previous research has examined AI's indirect climate benefits, such as extending the operational life of renewable energy sources and optimizing electricity grids, while overlooking the additional emissions caused by increased productivity in fossil fuel extraction and drilling. Lynn Kaack, an assistant professor of computer science and public policy at the Hertie School, pointed out that most existing studies compare datacenter energy use with the emissions savings AI provides, neglecting the increased pollution from boosting fossil fuel production. The researchers discovered that net emissions only decreased in scenarios where AI did not enhance fossil fuel productivity. If clean and dirty energy sectors were to adopt AI at comparable rates, renewables would need to achieve at least four times the productivity gains of fossil fuels to break even. Holly Alpine, a co-author who previously worked at Microsoft and now leads the Enabled Emissions campaign group, emphasized that the researchers assumed AI adoption would occur at the same pace for both fossil fuels and renewables. However, she noted that AI is already being deployed extensively in the fossil fuel industry, with real contracts and industry operator involvement, while renewables applications remain largely in pilot or academic stages. The International Energy Agency projects that AI could boost technically recoverable oil and gas reserves by 5% and cut the cost of deepwater offshore projects by 10%. Oil and gas companies have been enthusiastic about AI's ability to uncover additional fossil fuels, referring to it as the \"next fracking boom.\" Companies like Saudi Aramco and Equinor have reported significant discoveries and production increases attributed to AI advancements. Despite cautioning against premature conclusions, the researchers stressed that their findings indicate a significant and structural shift, not an exact forecast, as AI-powered productivity gains in the fossil fuel sector result in emissions at least three times the current estimates for datacenter energy consumption.",
  "summary": "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 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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}