IEA Q&A: Saravan Penubarthi, CTO of AIQ
AI is a dynamic tool that is shaking up the way industries operate, and energy is no different.
Predictive AI, for example, can be used to forecast patterns and identify future trends based on existing data, providing key benefits to the energy system.
However, AI in all its forms is energy-intensive, straining the very sector its intelligence supports.
Saravan Penubarthi is CTO of AIQ, an AI joint venture company launched by ADNOC and Abu Dhabi-based AI and cloud computing company Group 42 in 2020.
An ex Microsoft CTO and technology strategist, Saravan is well-versed in the relationship between technology — namely AI — and the energy industry, with thoughts on how this relationship will continue to grow.
He shared some of his knowledge at India Energy Week on the Harnessing AI and Digitalisation to Reach the New Frontier for Clean Energy panel — hosted by Energy Digital Editor Maya Derrick — alongside Anant Maheshwari, President and CEO, Global Regions at Honeywell and James Forrest, EVP, Global Energy Transition and Utilities Industry Leader at Capgemini.
You can read a summary of the panel in the April edition of Energy Digital.
Following the panel, Saravan continued the conversation.
Q. With AI and energy having a rich, longstanding relationship, how much more do you think we can leverage it moving forward?
The one thing that will happen in the energy industry is rule-based systems will be complimented with these cognitive-based systems.
The second thing we will see is the replacement of laborious and repetitive jobs with agentic AI and agents coming and replacing it.
The third trend — which I think will happen more often and is very specific to this industry unlike other industries — is autonomous operations because this industry is completely laborious and industrial AI processes are not easy to integrate.
One of the biggest advantages of infusing AI is not just about cost efficiency but its ability to move people away from hazardous areas.
These three trends will become the future when it comes to AI and its success going forward.
We at AIQ believe that there will be two learnings that have to happen.
Subject matter experts are more relevant than people think in the age of AI. However, you still need people to build AI systems. Delays come where systems can build their own internal systems.
These are the mega trends that we are seeing. The success of AI will entirely depend upon the kind of use cases that are getting tackled, the kind of data that people are getting in to make those use cases successful and last but not least and the integration of AI into operations.
Q. The new Trump administration is going to change the energy landscape, not just for the US but globally. Do you anticipate uncertain times for energy and AI or do you think it will kickstart an upward trajectory?
Without getting into a geopolitical debate, generally we see more of an opportunity for energy globally due to the rising demand for AI. The only way to solve it is also to use AI.
We can do this in three ways.
- Don't use AI for AI’s sake
- Use the right set of technologies
- Try to find the renewable energy to support the growing AI energy demands.
I think if we can do these three things specifically, we can strike the right balance of energy and AI.
Q. A big overarching theme of our panel was how energy and AI are intrinsically linked. Is this something that you think people maybe outside of the industry aren't aware of?
People outside the energy industry don't always understand whereas we in industry understand because we deal with energy transition and AI at the same time.
We feel that very soon, everyone will understand that energy and AI cannot be two separate entities and they're intertwined. The only way to solve this is energy for AI and AI for energy.
Q. What other points do you wish to touch on off the back of our IEW panel?
From an AIQ perspective, as well as from me as an individual, we always believe that the opportunity is always bigger than a solo entity.
AIQ, in partnership with ADNOC, has the opportunity to tap into data sets and through which we have created an ecosystem of AI. We always believe that we have a very strong foundation and we will take it forward for our external customers.
We are very happy to collaborate not only from the industry but also across the industry, wherever there's a relevance of technology to improve their business processes.
Explore the latest edition of Energy Digital Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Energy Digital is a BizClik brand
