Former US vice-president Al Gore has downplayed fears that AI poses an existential threat to the climate, arguing instead that the technology could significantly aid the global energy transition. Speaking at the release of a sustainability trends report by Generation Investment Management, the asset manager he co-founded over two decades ago, Gore said AI presents a 'great opportunity for further increasing the energy transition' by promoting renewable power sources. He stated that emissions from AI data centres should be 'put in perspective', describing them as a 'cause for concern but not panic', and noted that combined AI data centre emissions are only a fraction of those from uncovered landfills worldwide.

Gore acknowledged that advanced AI raises other safety issues requiring priority attention and supported the need for regulation, advocating US-China cooperation on AI and climate risks. He cited persuasive research, including a Grantham Institute report estimating AI could cut global emissions by up to 5.4 billion tonnes annually by 2035 across power, transport, and food sectors. However, he also referenced a Nature journal study by former Microsoft analysts warning that AI-driven productivity gains in oil and gas could increase emissions and outweigh clean energy benefits.

The International Energy Agency estimates global data centre electricity consumption will double to about 945 TWh by 2030, representing just under 3% of total global electricity use and growing at 15% annually—four times faster than overall electricity demand growth.