Paris: Aramco is set to broaden its international reach with the establishment of a new Aramco Ventures office in Paris, alongside a focus on artificial intelligence in the energy sector. Executive Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Saudi Aramco, Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, emphasized the essential relationship between AI and the energy industry, highlighting the role of energy in powering AI data centers and the potential of AI solutions to enhance energy supply.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Khowaiter made these remarks while speaking at the Adopt AI Grand Palais international summit in Paris. He also emphasized Aramco's strong connections with French companies and announced the upcoming opening of the Paris office. This expansion highlights Aramco's commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology with energy operations.
Al-Khowaiter also discussed a significant partnership with Pasqal, a leading quantum computing company. This collaboration has resulted in the installation of the Kingdom's first quantum computer for industrial applications at Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran. This initiative is designed to advance quantum computing expertise within the region and accelerate its application in energy and materials sectors.
He further noted the substantial energy consumption by data centers, which consumed approximately 415 terawatt-hours of electricity last year, equivalent to the total consumption of France. This figure is anticipated to double by 2030, underlining AI's importance in producing energy more efficiently to meet rising global demand.
Regarding Aramco's AI initiatives, Al-Khowaiter revealed that the company operates one of the most powerful supercomputers in the Middle East and has access to over 90 years of data. More than 400 AI use cases have been identified across Aramco's operations, enhancing both efficiency and safety. In 2024, Aramco's technology initiatives generated $4 billion, with approximately half of this value attributed to AI solutions.