Fossil fuel companies are using AI to find more oil and gas, not to cut emissions

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on DeSmog or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: AI is increasingly being used by major oil and gas companies to find reserves, improve drilling, monitor infrastructure and optimise production
• A recent Nature study cited by DeSmog estimates that productivity gains in fossil-fuel production could outweigh AI’s potential efficiency benefits, contributing to higher global energy-related emissions

🔭 The context: The study models a 1.2–4.8% increase in global energy-related CO₂ emissions from AI, with fossil-fuel productivity responsible for most of the modeled rise
• Companies are already reporting tangible gains: Equinor says AI helped identify 27 oil discoveries and saved $130 million in 2025, while Chevron says technology improved drilling and fracking efficiency in the Permian Basin by more than 30%

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: AI’s climate footprint is not limited to electricity consumed by data centers
• If the technology makes oil and gas extraction cheaper or unlocks previously uneconomic reserves, it could prolong fossil-fuel use and associated emissions

⏭️ What’s next: The debate is shifting toward accountability for the enabled emissions of AI — emissions generated by activities that AI helps make possible
• Meanwhile, AI companies and fossil-fuel producers are becoming increasingly interconnected through cloud services, data centers and energy supply.

💬 One quote: UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “The danger is not technology. The danger is technology without accountability”

📈 One stat: AI-driven productivity gains could contribute to a 1.2–4.8% increase in global energy-related CO₂ emissions, according to the cited Nature study

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