AI Set to Boost Oil and Gas More Than Clean Energy, Study Finds

Artificial intelligence is reshaping energy through seismic imaging, reservoir simulation, drilling optimisation and predictive maintenance, potentially cutting costs and raising recovery rates for oil and gas producers. Researchers at Paris-based Hubblo and the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering argue that climate assessments focused on data-centre power use and AI-enabled efficiency gains may overlook “enabled emissions” — additional greenhouse gases released when digital tools expand fossil-fuel output.

The team posted its preprint on April 29, 2026, using EXIOBASE3 data covering 2000 to 2022. Economic flows from information and communications technology into oil and gas rose from $20 billion to $48 billion and were roughly four times those directed to renewable and nuclear energy in 2022. A Microsoft-XTO Energy case study estimated digital tools could enable 54.3 million additional barrels from 2019 through 2025, adding about 6.7 million tonnes of CO2 in 2025 alone.