Will AI accelerate or delay the race to net-zero emissions?

Driverless taxis run by artificial intelligence use less fuel than conventional ones, but the wider climate impacts are unclear. Credit: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/Getty

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already transforming the global economy. Companies are investing hundreds of billions of dollars each year in these technologies. In almost every sector, AI is being used to drive operational efficiencies, manage complexity, provide personalized services and speed up innovation.

As AI’s influence on society grows, questions arise about its impact on greenhouse-gas emissions: will its myriad applications help to reduce the...