Al Gore argues that the main danger posed by artificial intelligence is not the emissions from data centres, but the broader social and economic disruption AI could cause. He says public opposition to data-centre construction may partly reflect fears about automation, job losses and warnings from AI industry leaders about rapidly advancing capabilities.

Gore says emissions from all AI data centres remain a fraction of those from global uncovered landfills, while air conditioning already consumes more electricity than the European Union and could see demand triple by 2050. However, he is concerned that companies may build methane-powered turbines that lock in fossil-fuel use for decades, and prefers renewable energy and batteries, which he expects to become increasingly cost-effective.