Abu Dhabi hosts the largest ADIPEC yet, with AI at the center of the energy agenda

Abu Dhabi recently hosted the largest ADIPEC conference to date, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in the energy sector. The six-day event took place at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) headquarters, attracting over 239,000 visitors to the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre.

Opening the conference, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director of ADNOC, emphasized the importance of discussing AI's role in energy. The main event featured a keynote address from Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, who highlighted energy as the primary challenge facing the world today.

The conference, which brought together more than 40 ministers, policymakers, regulators, global CEOs, and decisionmakers, aimed to address energy security, affordability, and long-term investment priorities. Schneider Electric showcased its automation and energy technologies at the event, with a focus on the importance of intelligently operating the energy sector.

According to Georges El Mir, Senior Vice President of Industry & Process Automation at Schneider Electric, 76% of Middle East energy leaders increased their investment in autonomous technology over the past year, driven by modernization and competitiveness. He stressed the need for measurable value, supported by cybersecurity, local capabilities, and skilled people.

Al Jaber noted that this year's ADIPEC is the largest the event has hosted, with experts from various sectors gathering to discuss energy security, affordability, and investment priorities. Alaa Alsadi, Group VP of Energy and COO at IEC Telecom, stressed the transformative potential of AI in the energy sector, emphasizing the importance of resilient connectivity for these capabilities to deliver real value, particularly in remote and offshore environments.

AI is now an integral part of the energy sector, with companies like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) actively participating in the conference. HPCL's Head of Corporate Communication and Public Relations and CSR, Anupam Tiwari, expressed the company's intent to build collaborations that create value for India and the world. Jereh Global Middle East, known for equipment manufacturing, also participated and aimed to enter the advanced technology industry at the conference.

The conference featured an AI Zone, showcasing the transformative role of AI in redefining systems, empowering people, and enabling disruption across various sectors. The event highlighted how AI is working hand in hand with human intelligence to redefine the future of the energy industry.