Science & Tech · AI · 1 day ago
AI firms deepen ties with oil and gas companies
OpenAI agreed to bring AI tools to ADNOC's operations in Abu Dhabi, deepening ties between the technology and fossil fuel industries.
The agreement is part of a wider push by AI companies to sell tools to oil and gas firms for drilling rigs, refineries and other assets.
At the same time, data centers are driving demand for new power, and some tech companies are turning to natural gas to supply it.
The article cites plans and deals involving Amazon in Texas, Nvidia and SoftBank in Ohio, and Microsoft and Chevron in West Texas.
Researchers warn AI could increase emissions if it helps fossil fuel companies make even modest economic gains, because the resulting emissions may outweigh energy savings.
In one scenario, emissions could rise by 0.47 billion to 1.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year.
Tech firms are continuing to pursue energy deals, while the sources do not describe any next steps for the OpenAI-ADNOC agreement.
AI companies are deepening ties with oil and gas firms, both to supply power for data centers and to integrate AI into energy operations.
OpenAI agreed with Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC to deploy AI across the state energy company’s operations.
Other companies are pursuing fossil-fuel power deals, including Microsoft’s agreement to buy natural-gas-fired power from Chevron for a proposed Texas data center.
AI advocates say efficiency gains could eventually save more energy than AI uses, while researchers warn that AI-driven gains for fossil fuels could increase emissions.
A study cited in the article estimated global CO2 emissions could rise by 0.47 billion to 1.8 billion tons a year in a scenario where fossil-fuel and renewable sectors benefit equally from AI.
- Who
- AI companies, including OpenAI, and oil and gas companies, including ADNOC, are deepening ties.
- What
- They are making deals to apply AI to energy operations and supply power to data centers.
- When
- OpenAI made its deal with ADNOC on “This Monday”; the article was published on 2026-11-08.
- Where
- The deals and projects described include Abu Dhabi, Texas and Ohio.
- Why
- AI firms are seeking customers in the energy sector and power for data centers; oil and gas companies are seeking AI tools for their operations.
AI advocates
NPJ Climate Action researchers
Effect of AI on emissions
AI advocates
AI advocates argue that efficiency gains across sectors could save more energy than AI consumes.
NPJ Climate Action researchers
Researchers warn that fossil-fuel gains enabled by AI could exceed emissions avoided through efficiency.
Nvidia announced a partnership with SoftBank and the US federal government to build a fossil-fuel plant for an OpenAI project in Ohio.
OpenAI made a deal with ADNOC to deploy AI across the state energy firm’s operations.
- OpenAI and ADNOC
- Agreement to deploy AI across ADNOC’s operations
- Microsoft and Chevron
- 20-year deal for 2.67 gigawatts of natural-gas-fired power
- Proposed data center
- West Texas
- Nvidia partnership
- SoftBank and the US federal government; planned fossil-fuel plant in Ohio
- Emissions estimate
- 0.47 billion to 1.8 billion tons of additional CO2 a year in the scenario described
What people are saying
On the smaller side it's about the emissions of Mexico annually.