AI ‘carries risks’ but will help tackle global heating, says UN’s climate chief

‘Done properly, AI releases human capacity,’ Simon Stiell said. Photograph: Bernd Arnold/The Guardian

Harnessing artificial intelligence will help the world to tackle the climate crisis, but governments must step in to regulate the technology, the UN’s climate chief has said.

AI is being used to make energy systems more efficient, and to develop tools to reduce carbon from industrial processes. The UN is also using AI as an aid to climate diplomacy.