Speaking at CERAWeek in Houston, Texas, ADNOC CEO Dr. Sultan Al Jaber emphasized the growing intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and energy, highlighting the increasing power demands of AI-driven applications.
“Applications like ChatGPT use 10 times as much energy as a simple Google search and are growing exponentially,” he noted. “By 2030, in the US alone, data center power demand is expected to triple, accounting for more than 10% of US electricity use. The fact is you cannot scale AI without access to energy. Simply put, the true cost of AI is not just in code, it’s in kilowatts. The race for AI supremacy is essentially an energy play.”
Dr. Al Jaber pointed out that nations with robust energy infrastructure will have a strategic advantage in the AI revolution. He highlighted the UAE’s potential to deepen energy partnerships with the US, particularly at the intersection of AI and energy. “This is where XRG, our newly launched transformational international energy investment company, can play a critical role.”
He further explained, “XRG is designed to meet the fast-growing energy needs of AI in an ‘and-and’ world. Without energy, AI is just potential. With it, AI has the potential to reshape the world.”
AI at ADNOC: A Strategic Advantage
Dr. Al Jaber also detailed ADNOC’s AI journey, which began five years ago and has since been integrated across its entire value chain. “We have created world-class solutions specific to our needs through our home-grown AI company, AIQ. Over 200 AI use cases are currently being implemented across ADNOC’s operations, from exploration to refining to logistics and strategic decision-making.”
He highlighted ADNOC’s flagship AI initiative, ‘Energy to the Power of AI’, which is applying agentic AI at an unprecedented scale. “Using AI, we are speeding up our upstream seismic analysis from months to hours. We are increasing the accuracy of production forecasts by up to 90%, and we are on course to make ADNOC the most AI-enabled energy company in the world.”
CERAWeek, running from March 10-14, brings together the energy industry’s top leaders to explore solutions to the world’s most pressing energy, environmental, and climate challenges. Dr. Al Jaber’s remarks underscore how the UAE is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-driven energy transformation through strategic investments and innovation.