Shell CTO Yuri Sebregts talks about using AI to amplify the human impact of its workforce
Summary
Proof of that is the company’s newly announced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning push, which will see Shell primarily lean on these technologies to aid the predictive maintenance of the equipment used to run its upstream and downstream operations.As Sebregts points out, getting the timing right on predictive maintenance tasks can be a big source of cost savings for a company the size of Shell, which is a major reason why it opted to press ahead on its scale-up efforts with the help of Microsoft and C3 IoT.It’s a platform where we can build our differentiating capabilities into that environment and it’s a solution that allows us to continuously pull in the latest open source developments so that you stay at the forefront and you don’t get locked into a system that is outdated after a time.”Beyond its retail sites, robotics is already commonly used to install equipment in offshore environments where it would be hazardous and impossible to send humans, and Sebregts also sees potential for AI to enhance how that work is carried out in future.Looking ahead, Sebregts says technology will have a critical role to play in how Shell addresses one of the energy industry’s biggest challenges to date – how to meet the growing demand for power across the globe in a sustainable way.