{
  "id": 575415,
  "title": "AI Could Help Fossil Fuel Companies Create More Emissions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/ai-could-help-fossil-fuel-companies-create-more-emissions-575415",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-11T13:45:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Wired",
    "slug": "wired",
    "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/ai-could-help-fossil-fuel-companies-create-more-emissions/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study published in the journal npj Climate Action suggests that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by fossil fuel companies could inadvertently lead to an increase in global energy emissions. The research, conducted by Will Alpine and Holly Alpine, two former Microsoft sustainability workers, indicates that AI could enable the fossil fuel industry to produce more oil and gas, thereby contributing to higher greenhouse gas emissions. The study finds that at the lowest estimate, AI could result in emissions equivalent to Mexico's annual output, while at its highest, these emissions could surpass those of Russia, the world's fourth-largest emitter. The paper argues that the increase in emissions due to AI would outweigh the benefits AI provides to developing clean energy technologies such as solar and wind. Holly Alpine notes that sustainability measures within tech companies typically focus on operational emissions rather than the emissions enabled by AI tools, which can significantly increase fossil fuel production and production efficiencies. The researchers used an economic model to model AI as a productivity enhancer across various sectors of the fossil fuel industry, estimating that AI could increase global energy-related emissions by 1.2% to 4.8%. This finding significantly outpaces projections for emissions from data center buildouts. The relationship between technology companies and fossil fuels is described as a \"self-reinforcing effect between supply and demand,\" meaning they cannot be treated independently. Despite the significant impact of AI on fossil fuel production, tech companies often do not measure the emissions associated with these enabled emissions. The study highlights the need to consider these \"enabled emissions\" when assessing the overall environmental impact of AI.",
  "summary": "New research finds that by making the fossil fuel industry more productive, AI could help increase carbon emissions by up to nearly 5 percent—vastly outpacing the impact of data centers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Wired Science",
        "title": "AI Could Help Fossil Fuel Companies Create More Emissions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/ai-could-help-fossil-fuel-companies-create-more-emissions",
        "published": "2026-08-11T13:45:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}