Abu Dhabi:Artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, and energy resilience were the focal points during the third day of the ADIPEC 2026 event, as leaders from the energy, technology, and investment sectors convened to discuss the large-scale deployment of AI.
According to Emirates News Agency, the discussions underscored an industry-wide transition from experimental applications to full-scale implementation of AI technologies. While confidence in AI's potential grows, speakers highlighted that its full value is contingent upon robust data, infrastructure, governance frameworks, and necessary investments to integrate AI into complex industrial operations.
The Strategic Conference at ADIPEC 2026 featured an AI, Digital, and Technology Innovation program that delved into the requirements for building an AI-ready energy system. Helmut von Struve, CEO of Siemens UAE and Middle East, emphasized the potential for AI to enhance productivity, reliability, and resource efficiency in essential operations.
Other discussions stressed the importance of collaboration between the energy and technology sectors. For example, John Gilley, CEO of Kent, and Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Alebri, CEO of ADNOC Onshore, explored how transparency and data-sharing facilitate deeper industrial partnerships.
As AI adoption accelerates, speakers argued that trust, governance, and cybersecurity will be crucial for the technology's wider acceptance. Dennis Jol, CEO of AIQ, noted the importance of trust in collaboration, citing the UAE's layered approach involving energy, data, infrastructure, and sovereign cloud solutions.
The event also featured the expanded AI Zone, co-hosted by AIQ, which provided demonstrations of AI's move from experimentation to operational deployment. Exhibitors showcased technologies such as reservoir modeling, autonomous operations, and robotics, highlighting AI's role in improving productivity and decision-making across the energy sector.
Stone Ridge Technology and Honeywell were among the companies unveiling new AI-driven technologies at ADIPEC. Additionally, Sinaha demonstrated its Autonomous Mobile Robots, with plans to begin manufacturing at a UAE facility in 2027.
Overall, the discussions and demonstrations at ADIPEC 2026 emphasized AI's transformative potential when applied across the energy value chain, not just in isolated applications.