Energy Leaders Embrace Artificial Intelligence as Strategic Priority, According to Major New Research

A landmark study examining the intersection of energy and artificial intelligence reveals a dramatic shift in how the sector's most influential figures view the technology, with investment and deployment accelerating at pace.

The relationship between artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure has entered a new phase. Where experimentation once dominated, implementation now prevails. Nearly two-thirds of energy leaders globally rank artificial intelligence among their top two corporate priorities, a substantial rise from 42 per cent just twelve months earlier, according to the third annual Powering Possible report, titled Energy Resilience in the Intelligence Era.

The research, which surveyed almost 400 senior energy and finance leaders and was developed by ADNOC, XRG and Microsoft, traces the accelerating momentum of AI adoption across the sector. Almost nine in ten respondents increased their spending on artificial intelligence over the past year, while 63 per cent anticipate that existing investments will generate returns sufficient to cover or exceed their costs. The deployment of agentic AI, in particular, has more than doubled in the same period.

What distinguishes this year’s findings from previous research is the nature of the value being sought. Supply stability and reliability now represent the most frequently cited measure of artificial intelligence’s contribution, rising from 26 per cent in 2025 to 39 per cent this year. Cost savings, while still significant, have declined in prominence. This shift reflects a growing recognition that energy systems have become measurably more complex and harder to predict over the past five years, a reality recognised by 86 per cent of leaders surveyed.

The scale of deployment tells its own story. The proportion of organisations operating integrated agentic AI workflows has more than doubled, from 15 per cent to 33 per cent, while those conducting isolated pilot projects have fallen from 35 per cent to 15 per cent. Within the energy industry itself, three in five respondents are already piloting or deploying autonomous and robotic systems in physical operations, from infrastructure inspection to the performance of hazardous tasks.

Yet this acceleration creates a fundamental infrastructure challenge. Nearly three-quarters of energy leaders expect artificial intelligence to increase energy consumption by 2030, though only 52 per cent express confidence that existing infrastructure can meet the additional electricity demand. Grid modernisation and smart-grid technologies represent the leading investment priority for supporting AI growth, cited by 67 per cent of respondents, followed by energy storage at 42 per cent.

The geographic variation in infrastructure confidence is striking. In Brazil and India, 74 and 70 per cent of leaders respectively believe existing systems can accommodate AI-driven demand. That figure falls sharply to 40 per cent in the United States and 38 per cent in the United Kingdom, suggesting uneven preparedness for the transition ahead.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO and Executive Chairman of XRG, emphasised the strategic imperative at play. “Artificial intelligence is creating significant new opportunities for the energy industry to drive greater value, strengthen resilience and improve safety and reliability. At ADNOC, we are embedding AI, robotics and advanced technology across our operations to optimise every barrel, every molecule and every megawatt we produce. As AI scales, energy and technology must advance together.”

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, underscored the parallel need for governance alongside innovation. “As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in the sectors that underpin the global economy, the measure of progress will not be adoption alone, but whether it delivers lasting value while earning public trust. In the energy sector, where reliability and security are fundamental, that requires strong governance, clear accountability and sustained investment in people and skills.”

The findings underscore the need for investment in energy and digital infrastructure to advance in concert, supported by robust cybersecurity, trusted AI-ready data, common standards, sound governance and a skilled workforce. Fifty-seven per cent of respondents identify the optimisation of power flows, dispatch and balancing as the area where artificial intelligence could make the greatest contribution to the energy transition.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Powering Possible report, published ahead of both the fourth ENACT Majlis and ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, reflects the emirate’s strategic positioning at the intersection of energy innovation and technological advancement. As the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi has demonstrated through its work harnessing artificial intelligence to advance industrial growth, the emirate is actively leveraging data and technology to strengthen its competitive advantage. ADNOC’s leadership in embedding AI across operations signals Abu Dhabi’s commitment to optimising resource management while maintaining the supply stability and reliability that underpins both regional and global energy security.

The research carries particular resonance for Abu Dhabi’s broader development priorities. The emphasis on grid modernisation, smart-grid technologies and energy storage aligns with the emirate’s investment in sustainable infrastructure. As the sector navigates this transition, Abu Dhabi’s experience in integrating advanced technology with energy production positions it as a bellwether for how energy systems worldwide might adapt to meet both artificial intelligence’s growing demands and the imperatives of energy resilience in an era of unprecedented technological change.

Source: WAM