The Reason Google Will No Longer Build AI Tools For Oil and Gas Industry

It is significant that Google's decision to no longer partner with oil and gas companies suggests the company views its reputation with its users, investors and employees, as well as its future economic prospects is less reliant on the energy companies than on those who view them with disfavor. JL

Matt O'Brien reports in the Associated Press via Business Insider:

Google said it will no longer build AI tools for oil and gas extraction, separating itself from Microsoft and Amazon. Greenpeace said Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have been undermining their own environmental commitments by partnering with Shell, BP, Chevron, and ExxonMobil, that have looked for technology to get more oil and gas out of the ground.

Google said it will no longer build custom artificial intelligence tools for speeding up oil and gas extraction, separating itself from cloud computing rivals Microsoft and Amazon.

The announcement followed a Greenpeace report Tuesday that documents how the three tech giants are using AI and computing power to help oil companies find and access oil and gas deposits in the U.S. and around the world.

The environmentalist group said Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have been undermining their own environmental commitments by partnering with major oil companies, including Shell, BP, Chevron, and ExxonMobil, that have looked for new technology to get more oil and gas out of the ground.

But the group applauded Google on Tuesday for taking a step away from those deals.

"While Google still has a few legacy contracts with oil and gas firms, we welcome this indication from Google that it will no longer build custom solutions for upstream oil and gas extraction," said Elizabeth Jardim, senior corporate campaigner for Greenpeace USA.

Google said it will honor all existing contracts with its customers, but didn't specify what companies.

Greenpeace's report says Microsoft appears to be leading the way with the most oil and contracts, "offering AI capabilities in all phases of oil production." Amazon's contracts are more focused on pipelines, shipping and fuel storage, according to the report. Their tools have been deployed to speed up shale extraction, especially from the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico.

Some of the contracts have led to by employees who are pushing their companies to do more to combat climate change.

Amazon declined to comment on the Greenpeace report, but pointed to wording on its website that said "the energy industry should have access to the same technologies as other industries." Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.