AI will be help rather than hindrance in hitting climate targets, Bill Gates says

Bill Gates has claimed that artificial intelligence will be more of a help than a hindrance in achieving climate goals, despite growing concern that a surge in new datacentres could drain green energy supplies. The philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder told journalists that AI would enable countries to use less energy, even as they require more data centres, by making technology and electricity grids more efficient. Gates downplayed fears over AI's climate impact after mounting concerns that the tech breakthrough could lead to a surge in energy demand and require more fossil fuels as a result. "Let's not go overboard on this," Gates said. "Datacentres are, in the most extreme case, a 6% addition [in energy demand] but probably only 2 to 2.5%. The question is, will AI accelerate a more than 6% reduction? And the answer is: certainly," he said.