The annual Future Oil & Gas conference returned to Aberdeen for its 2026 staging on 24–25 June, with the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation on the energy industry at the forefront of discussion.
The forum’s usual mix of dynamic debate, knowledge sharing and networking opportunities attracted more than 300 delegates from 174 organisations to this year’s venue, historic Ardoe House, a 19th-century baronial mansion just outside Aberdeen.
Delegates represented a broad swathe of the energy industry, including major operators, energy services providers, AI solutions developers, industry associations and academia. Taking to the stage were speakers from leading operators, such as Shell, bp, ExxonMobil, Aker BP, MOL, along with voices from energy services firms including Falkor, Enablon, KBC, VEERUM, Prometheus Group and many others.
Panel sessions, keynote presentations and roundtables covered a wide range of cutting-edge industry themes. Among topics up for discussion were the role AI is already playing in improving operational efficiency, resilience and profitability, how to blend digital technologies into workflows for maximum impact, workforce adaptation in a digital age, the importance of maintaining human accountability in an increasingly AI-oriented working environment and the challenges surrounding AI and data governance.
Adam Soroka, CEO of Cavendish Group and Future Events, said the strong conference line-up reflected the value attributed to knowledge sharing at this pivotal moment for the industry.
“When we first staged this event four or five years ago, the discussions on AI were embryonic. Now they are not about whether we are going to apply AI, but how we are actually applying it in the energy industry right now. That sharpened focus on the practicalities has resulted in a great event and augurs well for next year’s agenda,” he said.
Menno Van Vechgel, IDT Manager, Information, Data and Analytics at Shell, said the conference provided an important opportunity to discuss how the industry could best respond to the massive pressure to scale up AI-driven solutions to meet huge energy demand growth, decarbonisation challenges and growing system complexity.
“The question is not just about whether we adopt AI, but how do we adopt it at scale, responsibly and effectively, and that is what this event is all about,” he said.
Shane McArdle, CEO of industrial digital solutions firm Falkor (formerly Kongsberg Digital), said the event provided an ideal forum for leading players to assess the opportunities and challenges of a fast-changing digital landscape.
“Automated processes have been part of the energy industry for decades, so we are no strangers to the questions of trust, oversight and control that come with advanced technology,” he said.
“What is different now is the pace at which AI is being implemented, and the speed at which governance structures and guardrails need to mature alongside it. That makes events like this important: they bring the industry together for the conversations we need to tackle these issues.”