Al Gore has long been a voice for climate action, but his recent comments on artificial intelligence (AI) suggest his concerns now lie closer to home than the data centers themselves. Speaking to TechCrunch, Gore argued that the emissions from AI servers are a mere footnote compared to the energy consumption of air conditioning. His main worry? The societal impact of AI, particularly the potential for job losses and ethical dilemmas.

Gore highlighted the growing opposition to AI data centers, which he attributes to underlying fears of automation. He pointed out that while some AI companies are investing in methane turbines, he prefers those that source renewable energy. His take on the recent calls for caution from AI leaders, such as Dario Amodei and Sam Altman, is that they are genuine concerns, driven by the potential for misuse and the need to manage the pace of technological advancement.

Despite his reservations, Gore remains optimistic about the potential of AI to drive down global emissions through efficiency and waste reduction. He cited a recent study by Nicholas Stern that projects AI applications could cut emissions by 6% to 9% per year. Meanwhile, his investment firm, Generation Investment Management, is focusing on opportunities to decouple compute from energy intensity, from power supply to construction and storage optimization.

For Gore, the AI revolution is part of a broader argument for the transition to clean energy. The recent geopolitical events, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, have underscored the volatility of fossil fuels. These developments, he believes, should accelerate the global shift towards clean energy, rather than hinder it.