ADNOC signs OpenAI deal to become first energy firm to deploy frontier AI
ADNOC has signed an artificial intelligence agreement with OpenAI and Abu Dhabi technology group G42, a deal its chief executive said would make it the world's first energy company to deploy OpenAI's frontier models across field development, asset management and commercial operations.
The agreement was announced as the ADIPEC energy conference opened at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre, under the guidance of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC managing director and group CEO, said the aim was to make the company's systems smarter, safer, more secure and more productive. "Sam, from the moment ChatGPT was born, the world has asked what energy can do for AI. Now together we will find out what AI can do for energy," he said.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, in Abu Dhabi for the opening, said he was excited to see what AI could do for energy companies, from producing more energy more efficiently to improving operations. Asked about the biggest challenge, he pointed to energy, and stressed that people must stay in control of the technology. "AI needs to be a tool for people. AI needs to serve people, not the other way around," he said.
Al Jaber used his opening speech to warn that energy security must now be measured at the point of delivery as well as production. Since the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted, he said, nearly 1 billion barrels have been drained from global oil inventories, diesel stocks in some markets are at their lowest seasonal level for 35 years, and others face a 600 billion cubic feet LNG supply gap. Shipping and logistics, once under 5 percent of the cost of a barrel, now account for more than 30 percent, he said.
ADIPEC opened with record participation: more than 170 countries represented, 2,260 exhibiting companies, 40 government ministers and 30 country pavilions, according to figures shown on stage. Al Jaber said the event had outgrown its usual venue at ADNEC because of higher demand than last year, prompting the move of the opening speech to the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre to make room for new partners and participants.
