Microsoft, Amazon, and Google all have aggressive climate commitments—and AI partnerships with oil companies. Source: Getty Images
Lots of people—way more than usual!—are reading and sharing last week’s article about a new study finding that Big Oil’s use of AI to increase production could trigger 3.3 to 13.3 times more climate pollution than the emissions from AI data centers.
The attention is promising. As the study authors told us, expanding the climate conversation about AI beyond data centers to include “enabled emissions” is the necessary first step toward making sure AI doesn’t lock us into dangerous, irreversible warming.
But despite all this reaction, I’m not seeing many people ask what I believe to be the most important question raised by the research:
Why are these huge technology companies making custom AI tools to help the fossil fuel industry produce more oil and gas in the first place?
Microsoft, Google and Amazon have all promised both to fight climate change and to develop AI responsibly. Microsoft says it will become carbon negative by 2030, and that the systems it builds “must also support the long-term health of the planet.” Google says its AI safeguards are designed to mitigate “unintended or harmful outcomes,” and it aims to reach net zero emissions across its operations and value chain by 2030. Amazon says responsible AI includes preventing harmful outputs and misuse, and it has pledged to reach net zero carbon by 2040.
And yet, Microsoft, Google and Amazon have all created custom AI or machine-learning tools for fossil fuel companies to help them increase production. So how are these companies going to respond to research suggesting their actions are achieving the exact opposite of what they promise?
Remember: In the scenarios the researchers modeled, global emissions fell only when AI produced no productivity gains for the fossil fuel industry. It was not enough for AI to help renewable energy, too.
So do Microsoft, Google and Amazon accept that finding? And if so, what are they going to do about it?
I think these are the most important accountability questions that can be asked about this issue right now. So I’m trying to get answers. On Tuesday, I emailed the press teams at Microsoft, Google and Amazon to ask them to respond to the research. In essence, I asked whether they accept the study’s findings; how their work increasing fossil fuel production aligns with their climate and responsible-AI commitments; whether they track or disclose the emissions their technology enables; and whether the findings will prompt them to stop making custom AI tools that help fossil fuel companies produce more.
One thing I expect to hear from these companies is that their AI technology is actua
