OpenAI’s Sam Altman highlights the transformative potential of AI in the energy sector during the opening of ADIPEC 2026, as the UAE forges significant partnerships to integrate advanced technology into its oil industry.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — At the opening of the world’s largest energy conference, ADIPEC 2026, artificial intelligence (AI) took center stage alongside oil and gas. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined senior UAE officials to announce a major partnership aimed at integrating advanced AI into the energy sector.
The ceremony, attended by Fox News Digital, gathered high-ranking government officials and energy industry leaders against a backdrop of global energy supply pressures exacerbated by ongoing conflicts involving Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Amid discussions on oil production and energy security, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chief Executive of state-owned energy giant ADNOC, presented a different challenge to the technology sector.
“From the moment ChatGPT was born, the world has asked what energy can do for AI. And now, together, we will find out what AI can do for energy,” Al Jaber stated, introducing the partnership between ADNOC, OpenAI, and the Abu Dhabi-based technology company G42. This collaboration marks a significant step in the UAE’s ambition to establish itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence, leveraging its energy resources and financial strength to shape the future of the industry.
However, the potential of AI in the energy sector extends beyond mere technological advancements. Dr. Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and CEO of the World Energy Council, spoke exclusively to Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the conference, emphasizing the importance of a people-centric approach. “It isn’t about AI making decisions for humanity; it’s about AI enabling people to make better decisions,” Wilkinson remarked. She noted that the evolving relationship between energy and AI should be viewed as an opportunity to enhance human capabilities rather than simply automate industrial processes.
Amos Hochstein, a managing partner at TWG Global and former senior adviser to President Joe Biden, acknowledged the potential benefits of the OpenAI-UAE partnership. However, he cautioned that the rapid expansion of AI must be weighed against its financial and societal impacts. “The energy sector is going to be one of the big beneficiaries of AI,” Hochstein said, while urging the U.S. to maintain its leadership in advanced AI and ensure that Americans do not bear the costs of its growth.
The ADNOC partnership aims to integrate advanced AI systems throughout the company’s operations, including oilfield development, reservoir management, refining, logistics, and commercial trading. According to ADNOC, one of the initial applications will consolidate decades of data from thousands of oil wells and numerous reservoirs, aiming to complete complex development plans in hours instead of months. The company anticipates that this technology could enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enable energy producers to respond more swiftly to market fluctuations. However, these projected improvements have yet to be independently verified.
For the UAE, this initiative signifies more than just a single agreement. The country is also involved in the Stargate UAE project, a significant computing infrastructure initiative in collaboration with American technology firms. This project is part of Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy to position itself as an international AI hub.
In a separate interview with Fox News Digital in Dubai, Mohammed Baharoon, Director General of the research center B’huth, described the UAE’s technological ambitions as a shift from exporting oil to exporting digital computing capacity. He suggested that the rise of AI could lead to an economic transformation akin to previous industrial revolutions, creating new industries and opportunities while disrupting existing professions. However, Baharoon warned that governments are struggling to keep pace with technological advancements. “We will need to bring in the concepts of regulation at the point of development, not after the development has happened,” he stated, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to address potential risks associated with AI.
The issue of human control was also central to Altman’s remarks at ADIPEC. During a panel discussion, he asserted that AI should remain a tool that serves people rather than replacing human decision-making. Altman acknowledged a fundamental challenge facing the AI industry: the substantial energy requirements to power increasingly sophisticated AI systems. When asked to identify his biggest challenge, he replied succinctly, “Energy.” This exchange highlighted the intricate relationship between two industries that are becoming increasingly interdependent.
AI companies require vast amounts of electricity to operate data centers, while energy producers are increasingly turning to AI to enhance efficiency, optimize production, and identify vulnerabilities before they disrupt supplies. The stakes are particularly high in the Gulf region, where geopolitical tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have compelled energy producers to rethink their strategies for protecting infrastructure and ensuring supply continuity.
In his opening address, Al Jaber noted that nearly a billion barrels had been drawn from global oil inventories since the disruptions in Hormuz, underscoring how swiftly geopolitical instability can impact global energy supplies. He presented AI as a crucial component of a broader strategy to bolster operational resilience, arguing that companies must develop systems capable of anticipating challenges rather than merely reacting to disruptions.
Altman praised the UAE’s commitment to adopting AI across both government and industry, calling it the world’s most forward-looking nation in embracing this technology. For Abu Dhabi, the emerging partnership between its traditional energy sector and leading AI companies presents an opportunity to extend its economic influence beyond oil exports. However, whether these investments will ultimately yield the promised enhancements in productivity, energy security, and technological innovation remains to be seen. As discussions at ADIPEC illustrated, the critical question is no longer just how much energy the AI revolution will demand, but whether artificial intelligence can help address some of the very energy challenges it is creating.
According to Fox News Digital, the implications of this partnership could reshape the energy landscape, but the outcomes depend on effective implementation and oversight.