A new study published in Environmental Research Letters finds that continued growth in artificial intelligence (AI) use across the United States could add approximately 900,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. This is not a small amount but equates to a relatively minor increase when viewed in the context of nationwide emissions.
While AI adoption is expected to boost productivity and economic output, researchers note that its environmental footprint can be seen as relatively modest compared to other industrial activities. The study examined potential AI integration across various sectors, estimating the associated rise in energy use and carbon emissions.
Key findings include:
Co-author Anthony R. Harding explains: “While the projected emissions from AI adoption are modest compared to other sectors, they still represent a meaningful increase. This underscores the importance of integrating energy efficiency and sustainability into AI development and deployment, especially as adoption accelerates across industries.”
As AI technologies become more integrated into daily operations, researchers encourage industry leaders to incorporate energy efficiency and sustainability into their AI strategies to ensure responsible growth as adoption scales.
ENDS
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Environmental Research Letters
Observational study
Not applicable
Watts and Bots: The Energy Implications of AI Adoption
11-Nov-2025
The authors state that they do not have any conflicts of interest.