Technology giant, Google, announced last week that it would stop developing new artificial intelligence solutions that helped the oil and gas industry to accelerate the production of fossil fuels. This follows the publication of a report by Greenpeace accusing the company as well as Bill Gates’ Microsoft, and Jeff Bezos’ Amazon of having contributed to damage to the environment in recent years.

A publication by Greenpeace read, “These three tech companies seem to be aware of the mismatch between their stated climate goals and the real climate impact of helping the fossil fuel sector become more productive and efficient.”

The aforementioned companies have positively contributed to the increase in the global supply of oil and gas. Global firms with presence in some African countries like Shell, BP, Chevron and Exxon Mobil have used the solutions provided by these companies to boost their production worldwide. But it is argued that their commitment to reducing carbon emissions to its barest minimum has been neglected.

Liz Jardim, the front-liner for the climate campaign of Greenpeace, USA, rejoiced even though she claimed that Google should have terminated its contract with the oil and gas industry instead of its decision to no longer develop new solutions for extraction.

Although Amazon is yet to comment on the issue, Microsoft has reportedly said that the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is difficult, but it still aims to be carbon negative by 2030. Greenpeace reacted to Microsoft’s statement by saying that its contract with ExxonMobil alone could “result in emissions greater than 20% of Microsoft’s annual carbon footprint.”

Over time, African countries have been tipped to employ the use of artificial intelligence, for example, in detecting, monitoring and controlling oil spillages either through pipeline vandalism or by any other means that causes the spillage in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Since Google’s statement is on “fossil fuels” and the decision to stop developing new artificial intelligence solution is limited to the United States, one can hope the African Energy sector realizes the importance of Artificial Intelligence solutions as a key answer to some of the challenges that Africa’s oil and gas sector faces.