In total, it analyzes more than 150 statements made by both big tech companies and organizations such as the International Energy Agency about the supposed benefits of generative AI.

The report finds that 74% of such claims made by these institutions are unproven, with 36% not bothering to cite any evidence whatsoever.

The report also knocks big tech companies for using assorted strategies to conceal the true extent of their energy use, including buying renewable energy certificates even while relying on fossil fuels to power their operations, and vowing to implement highly implausible solutions to mitigate the climate impact of data centers, including carbon capture technologies and even building orbital data centers in space.

Jill McArdle, international corporate campaigner at study sponsor Beyond Fossil Fuels, said the study shows “there is simply no evidence that AI will help the climate more than it will harm it,” and accused Big Tech companies of “writing themselves a blank cheque to pollute on the empty promise of future salvation.”