AI beyond the hype

Energy security and resilience have moved to the top of the agenda after repeated supply disruptions. As the industry gathers for ADIPEC 2026, AI is being pitched as a way to anticipate equipment failures, improve operations and respond faster to risk. But can it deliver measurable results in critical energy systems, or is the promise still running ahead of the proof?

Host Ed Crooks is joined by Saravan Penubarthi, Chief Technology Officer of AIQ, an energy-focused AI company. Saravan argues that AI creates value when it moves from pilots into day-to-day operations, with tools built around energy-sector problems and tested alongside customers.

He describes a model that spans prediction, recommendations and, in some cases, autonomous action. Examples include RoboWell, which adjusts well controls, and computer-vision systems used for safety, security and productivity. Saravan cites a 2 to 5 per cent production improvement for ADNOC, AI solutions deployed across its 148 rigs, and more than a billion camera-based predictions a day. He also outlines AIQ’s emissions-monitoring work and its expansion into international markets.

The central question is how much of that promise can be trusted at scale. Saravan distinguishes assisted AI, where people approve recommendations, from autonomous operations, which he says require extensive testing, fallback mechanisms and clear human oversight. He says AIQ is developing Genesis, an AI-native operating system for energy, for unveiling at ADIPEC.

For operators, the test is whether these systems can produce repeatable, measurable gains without compromising safety or accountability. As AI moves closer to controlling critical assets, evidence from real deployments will matter more than ambitious claims about what the technology might eventually do.

This episode of the Energy Gang is brought to you by ADIPEC, the world's largest energy event, taking place in Abu Dhabi from 2-5 November.

As demand rises and global energy markets evolve, ADIPEC 2026 brings together governments, industry, investors and technology leaders to accelerate investment, advance technology and build the partnerships needed to meet today's energy needs while building a more resilient system for tomorrow.

Discover more at adipec.com