Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, described the UAE as “the world’s most forward-looking country in adopting artificial intelligence”.

Speaking during a panel session at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, ADIPEC 2026, Altman discussed agreements announced between OpenAI, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ADNOC and technology company G42. He said collaboration between the three organisations could help shape and strengthen the energy sector through AI.

He said AI is transforming the way people work, with tools such as ChatGPT helping individuals perform tasks more efficiently. People are also increasingly using AI as a colleague or member of their team.

The OpenAI CEO said one of the most exciting aspects of the technology is its role in scientific discovery. According to Altman, AI systems have spent the past few months tackling mathematical problems that humans had previously been unable to solve.

He added that these capabilities could be applied across various scientific fields and help address complex challenges related to energy production.

Addressing AI’s energy consumption, Altman said the amount of energy required for each query is declining as systems become more efficient. However, the falling cost of using AI is also driving greater demand and wider adoption of the technology.

He expressed hope that using AI in the energy sector could deliver benefits that offset the technology’s own energy consumption and ultimately expand global access to energy.

The OpenAI CEO also addressed AI’s impact on jobs, saying the technology can already perform many tasks associated with some administrative and professional roles. However, he expressed confidence that societies would be able to adapt to these changes.

Altman also stressed the importance of human creativity and judgement, saying people must remain in control of decision-making.

He emphasised that AI should serve as a tool for people, rather than as a system entrusted with making decisions about their future.