At the same time, expanding AI and the digital economy requires huge data centres that run on electricity. Although their energy use today is small in the context of the global energy system, demand has increased rapidly in recent years and is expected to keep growing. Considering the implications of the AI revolution is therefore critical to understanding the future of energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has long been at the forefront of understanding the links between the energy sector and digitalisation, and as the only global agency tracking all fuels, technologies, sectors and geographies, it is uniquely placed to analyse the connections between AI and energy. 
There is an urgent need for dialogue between the energy industry, tech sector and policymakers, and a structured, comprehensive assessment of the potential implications of AI in the energy sector.
The IEA’s Global Conference on Energy & AI provides this space for dialogue and seeks to:
1. Build strategic understanding among global leaders of the implications of AI for energy and energy for AI.
2. Develop a shared sense of priorities to unlock the potential benefits of AI for the energy transition and manage the risks, including the rise of electricity demand.
3. Establish a lasting platform for dialogue between stakeholders.
This Conference is part of the IEA’s new initiative Energy for AI, and AI for Energy and will feed into the IEA’s forthcoming
This Conference is part of the IEA’s new initiative Energy for AI, and AI for Energy and will feed into the IEA’s forthcoming Special Report on Energy and AI. The event will also help to support various political fora where the AI and energy nexus is discussed.
