The combination of large volumes of climate and environmental data and analytical methods using machine learning has a long history in research about environmental sustainability. The last years, however, signal a rapid shift in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for environmental sustainability research and action. AI is however only one part of more profound technological changes. In addition, as the pressure of human activities accelerates on the living planet and the climate system, so too does the hope that a wide variety of technologies that support digitalization such as sensors, advanced satellite technologies, and increased uses of AI will be able to increase societies’ capacities to detect and respond to the repercussions of a rapidly changing planet.