Artificial intelligence is reaching into nearly every aspect of life — from politics and culture to the global economy. Online search is no exception.
AI-powered chatbots and search tools are becoming the main way people ask questions online. If we want to remain useful and competitive — and continue dedicating 100% of our profits to climate action — we need to meet this moment.
At the same time, regenerating the planet is why we’re here. We want to make climate action a seamless part of everyday life. We even made a legal commitment to stay true to our planet-saving mission by becoming steward-owned.
So how do we reconcile this with the most disruptive technology of our time — one that consumes significantly more energy than traditional search?
Building the world’s greenest AI
As a not-for-profit company, we can afford to approach AI differently. One way we do that is by using smaller, faster models that balance performance with efficiency. We also intentionally avoid energy-heavy features like video generation.
Yet minimizing the impact of AI is not enough: we want it to have a positive effect. That’s why we generate more renewable energy than our AI features use, from 100% clean sources like solar and wind. That extra green power goes into the electricity grid and pushes out fossil fuels. So just by using Ecosia, you accelerate the energy transition.
The impact of AI is not just about how it’s designed and powered, however. It’s also about what it says. That’s why we’re developing Climate Intelligence, enabling our AI to become your personal climate coach. This upcoming feature will allow you to receive contextual eco tips based on the latest environmental science, if you choose. Ecosia’s AI will even be able to help you discover planet-friendly brands and products, making better choices easier.
Protecting your privacy
We’re building an AI that respects your privacy as much as it respects the planet. This means we only collect what's necessary to deliver a great product — and not a byte more.
Crucially, unlike Big Tech, we don't run email, maps, or payment platforms, so we couldn’t piece together your life even if we wanted to. That’s not our business, and it never will be. As a European company, we’re also bound by strict privacy laws like the GDPR, which means your data stays yours.
By taking these steps, we’re showing that powerful AI doesn’t have to come at the cost of your privacy. After all, we’re here for the trees, not your data.
Where we’re headed
Today, Ecosia uses AI to help you find answers faster, with summaries shown at the top of your results. If that’s not your cup of tea, you can switch the feature off anytime in your settings.
Looking ahead, we’ll be rolling out more AI features designed to turn your curiosity into climate action. Imagine a personal assistant that helps with everything from productivity, recipes and holiday planning to tailored climate tips — practical, planet-conscious, and private.
Behind the scenes, we’re also building our own infrastructure by developing an independent European search index and working toward hosting our own AI models. This gives us more control over the technology, so we can make it green, ethical, and aligned with our mission.
As we explore how AI can serve both people and the planet, we’d love to hear from you. What would a truly green AI look like to you? How would you like to search more sustainably? Drop us a line at AI.feedback@ecosia.org. While we can’t reply to every message, we read each one carefully and genuinely value your input.
Even as new, disruptive technologies emerge, our mission stays the same: 100% of our profits go to climate action — restoring forests, protecting biodiversity, and empowering communities, free for everyone.
