- Collaboration with fossil fuel companies
- Internal criticism
- Emissions and commitments
Microsoft, a company known for its public environmental commitments, is facing criticism for quietly selling AI services to fossil fuel giants.
Collaboration with fossil fuel companies
Although Microsoft has committed to being ‘carbon negative’ by 2030, it continues to work with oil companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron to provide the latter with AI technologies that increase oil production.
According to a report by The Atlantic’s Karen Hao, Microsoft has created algorithms designed to assist fossil fuel companies in increasing their output. These AI tools identify the most probable zones to drill in to maximize the oil company’s revenue.
Internal criticism
While Microsoft publicly promotes its AI as a driver for sustainability, its collaboration with oil and gas companies remains largely unpublicized. As noted in the report, internally, some employees have raised concerns about Microsoft’s involvement in the fossil fuel industry.
Holly Alpine, a former Microsoft sustainability program manager, stated that she had grown frustrated with the company’s approach. Alpine, who is now against the extraction of fossil fuels, pointed out that Microsoft’s public position on AI for sustainability is not the whole truth.
Emissions and commitments
While Microsoft has pledged to achieve carbon negativity by 2030, the company continues to engage with the fossil fuel industry. The company’s executives have stated that the AI technologies it provides to these firms can assist the latter in cutting down on energy expenses and emissions, thus making the partnership seem like one that promotes sustainable development.
According to recent statistics, Microsoft’s emissions have risen by up to 40% since it made the carbon-negative commitment in 2020. The biggest share is the scope 3 emissions, which include the products and services that Microsoft buys and the materials that go into its construction projects.
In 2023, the company released 15.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Microsoft continues to face criticism for its collaboration with fossil fuel companies even amidst public commitments to reduce its carbon footprint and investments in renewable energy projects.
