Overview
AI and energy are no longer parallel conversations. In 2025, their convergence is shaping a single transformation: powering AI’s strong growth while using AI to deliver a cleaner, smarter, and more reliable energy system. The second Powering Possible report from ADNOC and Microsoft draws insights from surveyed leaders across energy, technology and finance on progress made over the last 12 months, the value created and where focus is needed to accelerate adoption.
87% of organizations report increased spending on AI and digital infrastructure since 2024, but fewer leaders now call AI their top priority, reflecting a shift from hype to integration. The focus is on scaling proven solutions, aligning infrastructure, and delivering measurable impact.
One in five companies are now deploying agentic AI, autonomous systems that make complex decisions. But agentic AI is more than a technical upgrade, it’s a signal that AI is becoming a strategic capability across the energy value chain. Its success depends on secure infrastructure, high-quality data, and skilled talent.
Cybersecurity and data quality have overtaken cost as the top concerns for AI deployment, reflecting a maturing AI landscape in energy. The challenges are no longer theoretical, they’re operational. Companies are now focused on securing systems and cleaning data to unlock the full value of their AI investments.
Access to talent remains one of the top barriers to AI adoption in energy, cited by 39% of respondents. Talent intersects directly with other challenges like cybersecurity and data quality, both of which require specialized skills to manage. The shift from general concern to a defined challenge reflects AI’s growing maturity and the need to align human capability with technological ambition.
AI is no longer a niche IT workload, it’s becoming a large-scale energy consumer. Findings from 2025 highlight how 'AI for Energy' and 'Energy for AI' are no longer separate agendas. The challenge, and the opportunity, is to harness synergies to deliver a sustainable and secure energy future.
Powering Possible 2025 is a snapshot of where AI and energy stand today and where they must go next. It shows how AI is moving from hype to execution, with nearly 90% of companies increasing investment and 73% deploying AI across their operations, but barriers remain. Read the report to understand how the sector can accelerate business value with the adoption of AI at scale.
