Big Tech says generative AI will save the planet. It doesn’t offer much evidence

However, it turns out that there is very little, if any, actual evidence to support many of these claims.

Joshi is the author of a new report released Monday with support from several environmental organizations that attempts to quantify some of the most prominent claims about how AI will save the planet. The report doesn’t just look at claims from tech companies, energy groups and others about how “AI will serve as a net climate benefit.” Joshi’s analysis finds that only a quarter of these claims were supported by academic research, while more than a third publicly cited no evidence at all.

“People make claims about the nature of the societal impact of AI and the impact on the energy system — these claims often lack accuracy,” says Jon Koomey, an energy and technology researcher who was not involved in Joshi’s report. “It is important not to take self-serving claims at face value. Some of these claims may be true, but one must be very careful. I…