Induced emissions: the real climate balance of AI would be played away from data centers

A report published on 13 August suggests that the actual uses of AI generate 3.3 to 13.3 times higher emissions than the data centers themselves, including through the fossil industry.

The debate on the climate footprint of artificial intelligence almost always focuses on the electrical consumption of data centers. A report relayed on August 13, 2026 moves the focus to what its authors call induced emissions: those that AI allows to produce elsewhere, making other activities more effective.

The order of magnitude is striking. Productivity gains from specialized technologies would generate 3.3 to 13.3 times the current emissions from data centers, and up to eight times the projected emissions from these same data centers by 2035.

The most disputed point concerns the destination of these gains. According to the report, the actual use of AI is primarily used for oil exploration and extraction, which in front of the argument of technology companies presenting their tools as a net contribution to the fight against climate change. Greenpeace USA, which comments on this work, sees it as a demonstration that the balance sheet must be established on uses, not just on servers.