Tech companies in the AI industry are relying on experimental, low-probability clean-energy projects as the demand for power increases. Microsoft, for example, is betting on atomic fusion to generate power, a technology that scientists believe will continue to elude them. However, the voracious electricity consumption of AI is leading to an increase in fossil fuel use. Big Tech companies are investing in projects such as small nuclear reactors and geothermal energy, but critics argue that these endeavors are distracting from the current reality of increasing emissions.

The expansion of data centers due to AI is driving a surge in electricity consumption, with training artificial intelligence models estimated to consume ten times the electricity of a traditional search. Tech giants promise to transition to green energy, but it is argued that they often operate off the same power grid as others, leaving utilities to rely on fossil fuel expansion to meet energy demands. The shift towards more clean energy sources needs to happen to counteract the environmental impact of AI.