ADNOC and Microsoft Release Report on AI’s Growing Role in the Energy Sector

ADNOC and Microsoft have jointly released the second edition of the Powering Possible report, exploring the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across the global energy sector. The report draws insights from more than 850 experts in energy, technology, AI, academia, and finance — including leaders from OpenAI, TotalEnergies, and the International Energy Agency — and highlights a major shift in the AI-energy landscape, moving from exploration and pilots to large-scale deployment.

According to the findings, nearly nine in ten companies have increased their investment in AI and digital infrastructure since 2024, while 73% are now deploying AI across multiple business functions. Notably, one in five organizations have already adopted agentic AI to automate complex decision-making, underscoring that AI is no longer a future prospect but a core business capability today.

The 2025 report reveals that the energy sector is not only powering AI but also being transformed by it. AI is projected to have the greatest impact on energy distribution and emerging clean energy solutions, with applications including predictive maintenance, smart grid management, real-time demand forecasting, and energy optimization.

Eighty-eight percent of respondents believe that scaling AI is essential to achieving the energy transition. Meanwhile, 55% identified grid modernization as the top investment priority to meet AI’s rising energy needs, followed by energy storage (38%) and advanced materials such as high-efficiency conductors (33%).

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO said: “AI is no longer a future promise for the energy sector; it’s delivering real impact today from predictive maintenance to AI-optimized grids. At ADNOC, we’re embedding AI as a core capability across our operations, driving transformation at scale with measurable gains in reliability, efficiency, and sustainability. This report reflects the sector’s progress and provides a roadmap for what comes next — investing in talent, scaling proven solutions, and aligning policy with innovation. The next step is clear: move faster, together.”