AI data centres are a growing source of electricity demand, and that footprint will be a central topic at COP31 in Turkey. The same technology is also being used to forecast wind and solar output, cut grid curtailment, speed up weather warnings, and spot methane leaks from oil and gas sites. The IEA estimates AI could save 13.5 exajoules of energy by 2035 if applied across transport, industry, and buildings, roughly equal to Indonesia's annual energy use. Groups like WattTime and Climate TRACE are already using AI for cleaner power timing and emissions inventories. The open question is whether the efficiency gains outrun the extra load from AI itself. The article notes AI is also helping oil and gas companies produce more fossil fuel, so the outcome depends on how the technology is deployed and regulated.
