How human-centric AI could revolutionise the energy sector

“Focus on the data, not the drama,” urged Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc, in his address to the Adipec global energy conference in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.

That line stayed with me. Because behind the data are real people.

Let’s imagine the fictional, yet very realistic, case of Safiya, a seasoned operator working in a cutting-edge Adnoc control room. She is in charge of one of the world’s most advanced energy facilities. Every decision she makes, sometimes in fractions of a second, keeps the system safe and efficient.

But like every human being, Safiya has limits. Towards the end of her shift, physical and cognitive fatigue kick in. Stress or personal issues can blur attention. Each micro-moment of distraction can have major consequences.

AI can make a critical difference here. But only if it can understand, in real time, how Safiya feels by scientifically monitoring her behaviour and decisions and adapt proactively to predict potential errors and mitigate them.

At Adipec, and earlier at the Enact Majlis, I heard a lot about computing, grids and capital expenditure. All critical. But what struck me most were the conversations that moved beyond algorithms and infrastructure to people like Safiya and how it is the human factor that determines whether technology truly delivers safety and performance.

Big tech meets big oil as AI takes centre stage at Adipec 01:16

Peer-reviewed analyses of safety incidents reported by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers show that human-factor contributors such as fatigue, cognitive overload or communication breakdowns can be involved in up to 90 per cent of cases. Benchmarked against its IOGP peers, Adnoc achieved a 22 per cent reduction in its recordable injury rate between 2020 and 2022, placing it among the world’s top quartile health, safety and environment performers.

This achievement is remarkable. It demonstrates how leadership, innovation and system-level discipline can translate into tangible results such as safer operations, higher performance and a relentless pursuit of continuous improvement. The next step is to use AI systems that adapt not only to processes but to people.

Imagine if Safiya’s workstation could sense her mental workload and automatically simplify displays, preventing errors. If her helmet could pick up changes in voice stress, head and eye movements, and even brainwaves. If her safety alerts could adapt, becoming more visual when auditory attention drops, or less repetitive when she has already acknowledged them.

Many energy sector chief executives agree: safety is the industry’s true currency. AI systems, when designed for people, are the best investment to keep improving both performance and protection

It’s already happening in the military, professional