Houston AI recently convened industry leaders at the Houston Ion to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping upstream oil and gas operations, from production forecasting to asset decision-making.
The Panel
The panel brought together diverse perspectives on AI adoption and implementation:
- Travis Osborne – Moderator
- Jon Daugherty – Raymond James, Investment Banking Energy
- Sammy Haroon – Founder & CEO, AlphaX Decision Sciences
- Muhammad Moeen Yaqoob – SLB, Global Innovation Factori Operations Manager
Emerging companies Ententia and Hexaspec also shared insights on applying AI to energy challenges.
Key Insights on Corporate AI Strategy
The Innovation Paradox
Large corporations excel at scaling proven solutions but often struggle to invent new ones. Successful companies increasingly embrace open innovation—sourcing breakthrough ideas externally while maintaining focus on core operations.
Build vs. Buy
The panelists explored a critical strategic question: when should energy companies develop AI capabilities in-house versus acquiring them?
Strategic acquisition of intellectual property, combined with selective internal development, can compress innovation timelines from 10 years to 2 years. The consensus: buy foundational capabilities to accelerate adoption, build where differentiation creates competitive advantage.
AI as Creative Destruction
AI functions as a horizontal technology that transfers breakthroughs across industries. For energy companies, even those not yet viewing AI as a core capability, strategic adoption is becoming essential for competitiveness.
Talent Requirements
Building effective AI organizations requires professionals with deep curiosity, mathematical intuition, and comfort with ambiguity—individuals who can transform raw data into actionable insights using advanced mathematical methods.
The Path Forward
The session concluded with a clear strategic framework: success in the AI era demands continuous investment, thoughtful adoption, and balance between innovation and operational scalability. As AI continues evolving rapidly, energy companies must act decisively to harness its transformative potential.
Learn more about Houston AI events and the growing AI community in Houston's energy sector at iondistrict.com