Towards a just AI-assisted energy transitions for vulnerable communities

Abstract

This Perspective overviews the role and potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy technologies and systems. We pay close attention to and speculate the probable impacts of AI on communities which are already vulnerable to the effects of energy transition and discuss how these impacts can be mitigated. In addition to a short literature review, we employed the assistive capabilities of a Generative AI chatbot through hypothetical roleplays to provide feedback on proposed mitigative measures. We highlight society-positive and society-negative impacts, emphasising the implications for just energy transition. We suggest potential measures to address these issues using the energy justice framework, including developing accurate training datasets, community-based mitigation policies, and establishing participative decision-making channels. We argue that human discretion must remain paramount, particularly in ensuring participative policymaking that safeguards social equity protection for vulnerable communities in AI-assisted energy transitions.