<p>The application of artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of human life and industrial production by enhancing efficiency, mitigating human error, and unlocking new avenues for innovation. However, the extensive computational resources demanded by AI consequently lead to substantial energy consumption, presenting a complicated challenge in balancing technological advancement with environmental sustainability. What AI can reciprocally contribute to the energy sector is an intriguing and urgent topic for discussion. This review categorizes the role of AI in terms of its explicit and implicit contributions to the energy sector by summarizing and discussing recent studies on this topic. Explicit contributions rely on the specific and actionable involvement of AI in energy production, including the improvement of energy production efficiency, optimization of renewable energy systems, and enhancement of energy security. In contrast, implicit contributions may not always be apparent but could provide valuable guidance into the energy sector, such as the optimization of energy allocation, promotion of energy conservation, support for sustainable urban development, and advancements in the development of energy materials. Perspectives on future efforts to enhance the contribution of AI to the energy sector are also presented. This review emphasizes the energy-intensive nature of AI technologies and highlights the imperative for strategies to mitigate their environmental impact, suggesting future research directions to achieve a sustainable balance.</p>