In brief
At the third day of ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, speakers from the energy, technology and investment sectors emphasized that AI’s full industrial potential hinges on data, infrastructure, governance and investment. The conference underlined the need for cross‑sector collaboration, cybersecurity and human‑machine integration to realise productivity gains. Uncertainties remain about whether the current momentum will translate into large‑scale operational changes.
On the third day of ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, the AI, Digital & Technology Innovation programme presented a roadmap for deploying artificial intelligence at the scale needed to boost productivity, reliability and energy security across industrial operations. Speakers highlighted that the ambition of AI is still far from being fully realised and that critical pillars—data ownership, robust digital infrastructure, clear governance frameworks and substantial investment—must be in place for the technology to be woven into complex energy workflows.
The opening session, titled “Beyond digital: how AI is reshaping industries, economies and society,” featured Helmut von Struve, CEO of Siemens UAE & Middle East. Von Struve stressed the transformative promise of AI for essential industries and services, saying The greatest value from an AI perspective is where industries, and also the essential services we depend on, can be improved. It is really about how we can make essential operations more productive and reliable, and how we can make them more resource-efficient.
In a separate session called “Beyond collaboration: redefining energy partnerships for cross‑sector collaboration,” John Gilley, CEO of Kent, and Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Alebri, CEO of ADNOC Onshore, explored the role of data sharing and digital transparency. Gilley noted that energy today is inseparable from data, stating
We are seeing that it is not just about energy; it is about connecting the world's appetite for data with the world's appetite for energy. Each country wants to have control of its own data and energy.
Later in the day, Rakesh Jaggi, President Digital at SLB; Som Dutta, Group VP – AI and Data Science, DP World; and Ashish Koshy, CEO of Inception42, spoke in “Digital transformation: building an AI‑ready energy system.” They outlined the technical architecture required to embed AI: secure, interoperable data pipelines, scalable cloud or edge computing resources, and governance models that balance regulatory compliance with commercial agility.
In addition to technical talk, the conference also highlighted the security dimensions of deploying AI in critical infrastructure. Speakers urged a joint effort to address potential cyber‑risks while safeguarding the trust of end users who rely on real‑time decisions prompted by machine learning models.
The experts agreed that human‑machine augmentation should be central to the deployment strategy, with AI tools designed to support operators rather than replace them. They called for training programmes that equip workforce members with the skills to co‑operate with intelligent systems and for a cultural shift that values data literacy at all levels of the supply chain.
Throughout the event, the narrative remained that while AI offers a clear promise, its industrial‑scale implementation is contingent upon still‑unfinished foundations. There is no consensus on which governance frameworks will be adopted across jurisdictions, no definitive roadmap for the construction of a universal digital infrastructure, and uncertainty regarding the pace at which investment will materialise. Whether the current momentum will translate into widespread operational change remains unresolved.
