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, we want to continue to use 100% of our profits for the planet - and to make it easy for you to support that mission, every day. 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 AI with you in mind
As a not-for-profit company, we can afford to approach AI differently. One way we do that is by using small models that deliver accurate answers from reliable sources, balancing performance with efficiency. We also intentionally avoid energy-heavy features like video generation.
Yet minimizing the impact of AI is not enough: we aim to make a positive impact. That's why we've invested in renewable energy projects – which help produce clean energy, pushing fossil fuels off the European energy grid. 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 more efficient, more privacy-focused, and aligned with our mission.
We’re learning as we go, and we’d love your thoughts along the way. Tell us what works, what doesn’t, and what you’d like to see next 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.
