ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — At the opening of the world's largest energy conference in Abu Dhabi, artificial intelligence took center stage alongside oil and gas as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined senior UAE officials for the announcement of a major partnership aimed at bringing advanced AI into the energy industry.The opening ceremony of ADIPEC 2026, attended by Fox News Digital, brought together senior government officials and energy industry leaders at a time when the war involving Iran and disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz have placed extraordinary pressure on global energy supplies.But amid discussions about oil production, shipping routes and energy security, Dr.Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology and chief executive of state-owned energy giant ADNOC, delivered a different challenge to the technology industry.OIL SQUEEZE TIGHTENS AS IRAN-BACKED ATTACKS CRIPPLE HORMUZ ESCAPE ROUTESFrom left, Mark Chen, Chief Research Officer at OpenAI; Sam Altman, CEO at OpenAI; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Ahmed Al Kuttab, Chairman at the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE) announce the Machine-Readable Government initiative in Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Media Office)"From the moment ChatGPT was born, the world has asked what energy can do for AI.
And now, together, we will find out what AI can do for energy," Al Jaber told the audience, introducing a partnership between ADNOC, OpenAI and Abu Dhabi-based technology company G42.The announcement marked a significant step in the UAE’s ambition to become a global center for artificial intelligence, using its energy resources, financial strength and growing partnerships with American technology companies to help shape the industry’s future.Yet the question of what AI can actually deliver for the energy industry goes beyond the technology announcements.THE AI REVOLUTION WILL GO WHEREVER THERE'S ELECTRICITY — AND CHINA KNOWS...