{
  "id": 17969237,
  "title": "At ADIPEC, war is the challenge and AI the opportunity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/at-adipec-war-is-the-challenge-and-ai-the-opportunity",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-11-03T13:23:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Semafor",
    "slug": "semafor",
    "url": "https://www.semafor.com/article/11/03/2026/at-adipec-war-is-the-challenge-and-ai-the-opportunity"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Adipec, an annual energy exhibition in Abu Dhabi, is currently underway, providing a clear indication that the UAE has weathered the impact of Iran's war, while also setting its sights on the future. The event has been dominated by discussions about opportunities, including the soaring price of oil above $100 a barrel, a new unconventional oil play being unearthed in the UAE, fusion technology, AI, and infrastructure upgrades. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed attendees at the opening ceremony, highlighting the strong bond between the energy sector and technology. The atmosphere at this year's Adipec is markedly different from previous editions, not only due to the ongoing war, but also because of the UAE's decision to withdraw from OPEC. This year, major players like Saudi Aramco, Kuwaiti, Omani, and Qatari companies have decided to skip the event, signaling a growing rift in Gulf business relations. While top executives from ExxonMobil, Chevron, and the US government are notably absent, the gathering now boasts participants from over 170 countries. However, the absence of key figures from major oil companies and US government representation has caught the attention of some observers. Amos Hochstein, a former senior energy and national security adviser to President Joe Biden, has been particularly vocal in his criticism, stating that US officials should be present in such pivotal events. Hochstein emphasized that the US and UAE are close allies, and they must be there when it matters. The conflict in the region is reshaping various aspects, from trade flows to alliances, yet the most significant change may ultimately stem from AI. Hochstein believes that the UAE is a \"critical partner for the US when it comes to AI buildout,\" and Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE minister of industry and advanced technology, reinforced this viewpoint by having Altman as the event's guest of honor. ADNOC, the state-owned energy company, has taken a bold step by becoming the first energy firm to deploy OpenAI's Frontier, a move that is part of a broader partnership with OpenAI and G42 aimed at improving operations, enhancing resilience, and boosting productivity. Al Jaber underscored the significance of this collaboration, reaffirming the UAE's commitment to leveraging AI for both energy and broader industry applications. The energy executives present at Adipec are unanimous in their view that disruption has become a permanent fixture in their industry, as reported by Bloomberg.",
  "summary": "Abu Dhabi’s flagship energy event is no longer a big tent gathering. But most of the world attends because of the energy-AI bonanza.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}