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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has described the United Arab Emirates as the world’s most forward-looking country in artificial intelligence adoption, praising its efforts to integrate AI technologies across major industries, including energy.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2026), Altman highlighted the UAE’s approach to technological innovation and its commitment to expanding the practical use of artificial intelligence.
He discussed agreements involving OpenAI, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and UAE-based technology company G42, saying the collaboration would support the development and deployment of AI solutions across the energy industry.
The partnership reflects growing efforts to use advanced technologies to improve operational efficiency, support innovation and address complex challenges in energy production.
AI Transforming Workplaces and Scientific Research
Altman said artificial intelligence is already changing how employees carry out everyday responsibilities, with platforms such as ChatGPT helping individuals complete tasks more efficiently.
He noted that users are increasingly interacting with AI systems as though they were colleagues or members of their teams, rather than treating them solely as conventional software tools.
Beyond workplace productivity, Altman identified scientific discovery as one of the most promising applications of artificial intelligence.
He pointed to recent advances in AI systems capable of solving mathematical problems that had previously remained unresolved, suggesting that similar capabilities could accelerate progress across scientific disciplines.
According to Altman, these developments could have significant implications for the energy industry, where AI could help researchers and engineers address increasingly complex technical challenges.
Altman Highlights AI’s Potential to Improve Energy Efficiency
Addressing concerns about the growing electricity requirements of artificial intelligence, Altman said technological improvements were reducing the amount of energy consumed by individual AI queries.
However, he acknowledged that greater efficiency and lower operating costs were also encouraging wider adoption, leading to increased overall demand for AI services.
Altman expressed hope that applying artificial intelligence to energy production and related industries would generate benefits exceeding the electricity required to operate the technology.
He suggested that AI-driven innovation could eventually help increase global energy availability by supporting more efficient production and scientific breakthroughs.
The comments highlighted the relationship between expanding AI infrastructure and the energy sector, particularly as demand for computing capacity continues to grow.
Human Judgment Must Remain Central as AI Reshapes Employment
Altman also addressed the potential impact of artificial intelligence on employment, acknowledging that existing AI systems can already perform many tasks traditionally associated with white-collar professions.
Despite concerns about job displacement, he expressed confidence in society’s ability to adapt as technology changes the nature of work.
He emphasised that human creativity, judgment and decision-making would remain essential, even as AI systems become increasingly capable of handling complex responsibilities.
Altman argued that artificial intelligence should continue serving as a tool designed to support people, rather than a system given authority over important decisions affecting their lives and futures.
His remarks at ADIPEC 2026 underscored the UAE’s growing role in AI development and the importance of cooperation between technology providers, energy companies and policymakers in shaping the industry’s future.
The remarks came as ADNOC announced a multi-year partnership with OpenAI and G42 to deploy advanced AI technology across its operations, including production planning, refining, logistics and trading.
The agreement will make ADNOC the first energy company to adopt OpenAI’s Frontier platform, with AI agents expected to help coordinate complex operational decisions and analyse large volumes of industrial data.
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