Figure 9 Leaders see upskilling and cybersecurity as key to integrating AI in the energy sector Most important improvement to integrate AI in the energy sector | 31% | 29% | 31% | 2025 | 2026 | | 27% | 27% | | 23% 25% | 24% | 23% | 21% 22% 20% 17% 18% 18% 15% 7% 7% Improving Upskilling of Advanced Sensor Data Standardizing Data Improving Improving cybersecurity energy sector AI model deployment infrastructure data formats integration regulatory communications frameworks professionals development upgrades & protocols upgrades framework networks The 2026 perspective • UNCHANGED: Upskilling energy-sector professionals is named among the most important enablers of greater AI use by 29% of leaders, against 27% a year ago. • NARROWED: A third of leaders spent one to two hours a week learning about AI last year. Over the same period the share committing 11 hours or more has tripled, from 8% to 25%. • NEW: Leaders were asked for the first time this year how their spending on upskilling workers to use AI has changed. More than three-quarters report an increase, and a third describe it as significant. Powering Possible 2026 27