AI’s Transformative Potential Highlighted at ADIPEC 2024

The potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the energy industry and accelerate decarbonization was a key focus at ADIPEC 2024, the world’s largest energy event. On the opening day, His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, underscored the necessity for industry leaders to collaborate in support of groundbreaking advancements like AI.

The sentiment around AI’s transformative impact signifies a growing optimism within the energy sector, with government officials and business leaders at ADIPEC 2024 united in their belief that AI can expedite the energy transition and unlock new pathways for progress and prosperity.

During the session titled “The Power of AI for the Energy Transition,” leading executives from the private sector, including Tayba Al Hashemi, CEO of ADNOC Offshore and ADIPEC 2024 Chairperson; Michel Lutz, Chief Data Officer and Digital Factory Head of Data & AI at TotalEnergies; and Magzhan Kenesbai, Acting MD of AIQ, discussed how AI is reshaping business operations and shared insights on the long-term implications of large-scale AI adoption.

Michel Lutz emphasized the positive impact of AI on operational efficiency: “We are using AI to improve operational efficiency, which supports our company’s development in the renewables space. This allows us to better assist our clients in understanding their behavior and needs.”

Speakers throughout ADIPEC’s ten conferences reiterated the urgency of addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by this transformative technology. Tengku Muhammad Taufik, President & Group CEO of PETRONAS, called on industry players to adopt a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to AI: “Before we perfect artificial intelligence, we need to address fundamental issues. AI can initiate either a virtuous or vicious cycle, depending on how we utilize this technology and how we feed it.”

Anima Anandkumar, Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences at Caltech, also participated in the discussions, noting AI’s evolving impact on the energy sector and the environment: “We should consider not just the energy reduction achieved using AI, but also the time and money saved by employing these AI models. AI is helping us take corrective action in response to natural disasters and climate-related issues, and the more data we have available, the better our AI models will become.”

ADIPEC’s commitment to advancing AI-enabled energy solutions was showcased in the inaugural AI Zone, featuring studios and demo pods from leading energy and AI companies. This space provided a comprehensive overview of innovations shaping the future energy landscape.

The dedicated AI Conference facilitated collaboration among leaders from the energy, technology, and government sectors to develop a strategic roadmap for AI integration within the energy landscape. Innovation Showcases allowed tech giants and energy leaders to present their latest breakthroughs in AI, with participation from Neeraj Joshi, Worldwide CTO of Energy & Resources at Microsoft; Aniruddha Sharma, Chair and CEO of Carbon Clean; Dr. Mike Roshchin, Head of AI at AIQ; and Ali Al Zaabi, Acting CEO of AYP/ADP at ADNOC.

The newly launched Digitalization & Technology Conference explored how next-generation technologies, including AI, can drive decarbonization and efficiency in the context of Industry 4.0. Discussions focused on advancements in new materials, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) to sustainably scale these technologies.

Exhibition halls featured the latest AI-enhanced hardware and energy equipment, allowing attendees to discover innovative products aimed at reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency.

As ADIPEC 2024 progresses into its third day, the event continues to be a global platform for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable advancement in the energy transition. With its unique blend of strategic insights and technological showcases, ADIPEC remains the premier forum for tackling the complex challenges of creating a low-carbon, high-growth future for the global energy sector.