New York · TechCrunch AI
The AI boom took over Climate Week and not everyone is happy about it
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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … the reporter will spare you the rest, but the cliché Dickens line does sum up this year’s New York Climate Week.
Key facts
- Total venture deal value has risen for four consecutive quarters, cresting the $14 billion mark in the first quarter of this year, according to the most recent available data from PitchBook
- Much of the climate tech community, like the rest of the U.S. economy — is eagerly riding the AI wave
- Some have reservations about the sheer quantity of natural gas power plants being built to power AI data centers
- One exchange during a panel at New York Climate Week captured the moment: Two founders, when asked whether they’d prefer the AI buildout to proceed at its current pace or at a more
Summary
Much of the climate tech community, like the rest of the U.S. economy — is eagerly riding the AI wave. It’s a continuation of a trend that’s emerged over the last year. The pivot has helped many climate tech startups land fresh funding from investors. One exchange during a panel at New York Climate Week captured the moment: Two founders, when asked whether they’d prefer the AI buildout to proceed at its current pace or at a more climate-responsible speed, said without hesitation that faster was better.