The details
The pledge also says nothing about the tie between AI and fossil fuels, even as the data center boom puts tech companies’ own emissions promises at risk. Some experts worry part of it echoes an industry argument that using AI against climate change can offset the harm from data centers. Alli Finn, head of community partnerships at the AI Now Institute, said voluntary promises and self-regulation have failed for years, and that companies can’t be trusted to “grade their own homework”.
Why it matters
Without targets, a pledge like this gives little to measure companies against, so it could earn credit for climate concern without requiring any change. The test is whether it gains firm commitments before or at COP31. This account has limits: it rests on a short excerpt published by AI Now, whose own staff member is quoted, and the excerpt doesn’t give the supporters’ side.