AI isn’t just part of the problem—it can also be part of the solution. Many scientists are working on ways for AI to help reduce energy waste, improve recycling, and support new climate-friendly technologies. For example, AI can help power grids use energy more efficiently and optimise farming to reduce pesticide use.
Is using AI greener than human labour for some tasks?
In specific activities—like writing or illustrating—a recent study found that AI systems can emit between 130 and 1500 times less CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per page of text than a human working on the same task. However, these figures don’t take into account all the real-world effects. AI is not always a substitute for human work. Large language models effectively try to predict the most likely word to follow the next, based on their learning of huge amounts of human-written texts. 'Hallucinations' - where AI makes up 'facts' or gives answers to please the user - are common.
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