Can PR Rehabilitate Big Tech’s Dirty AI Carbon Splurge?
5 days ago
Essay by Eric Worrall
Will anyone still believe big tech claims they care about the environment?
Big Tech is betting billions on AI — but can climate promises keep up?
The technology’s breakneck growth is testing tech giants’ climate credentials.
JON GOLDBERG
AUGUST 22, 2025
Artificial intelligence is sparking a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity. Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta are together projected to invest more than $300 billion in AI and data center infrastructure in 2025, and AI is expected to add more than $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
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A cynical narrative has emerged that chasing AI’s promise means abandoning decarbonization. Recent trends give some credence to this view. Google’s emissions jumped 48% from 2019 to 2023 and Microsoft’s emissions rose 30% since 2019 due to AI-supported data center expansion. Amazon’s emissions also increased in 2024, partially driven by new data center construction.
The reality, however, is more nuanced. Near-term emissions are increasing, but leading hyperscalers are doubling down on clean energy and decarbonization, simply because their AI ambitions depend on it.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/08/25/can-clever-pr-rehabilitate-big-techs-ai-carbon-footprint/
