Welcome to the Empirical Energy Podcast, where host Mark Smith sits down with Mehdi, author of Enterprise Gen AI for Energy Executives, to uncover how Generative AI, blockchain, and verified data are transforming the global energy industry.

This episode dives deep into real-world AI adoption — from C-suite strategy and data management to cultural transformation and workforce adaptation. Learn how energy leaders can identify the right AI use cases, navigate the “build vs. buy” debate, and prepare for the era of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

If you’re an energy executive, innovator, or tech strategist, this episode offers an unfiltered roadmap to the future of verified, intelligent energy.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Empirical Energy Podcast: The verified energy revolution

00:33 – Meet your host, Mark Smith

00:45 – Introducing Mehdi and his book Enterprise Gen AI for Energy Executives

01:08 – The inspiration behind writing the book

01:41 – Bridging the gap between technical experts and executives

02:12 – The need for continuous learning in AI and energy

02:33 – Mehdi’s background: From robotics to oil to data-driven strategy

03:18 – How Generative AI is transforming business operations

03:39 – Why AI is no longer a luxury — it’s essential

04:27 – What executives will gain from Mehdi’s book

05:11 – Identifying the most valuable AI use cases

06:12 – How to prioritize, budget, and assess AI initiatives

07:11 – The “Build vs. Buy” dilemma for modern organizations

08:15 – Vendor partnerships, data security, and compliance challenges

09:40 – The reality of implementing AI in the energy sector

10:01 – Lessons from real projects and the “dumb tax” of innovation

10:38 – Prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and agent-based AI

11:30 – Managing fear and resistance to AI adoption

12:17 – Building a culture of learning and adaptation

13:04 – Behind the scenes: Mark and Mehdi’s “book club” collaboration

13:35 – Upcoming Energy AI Conference — join the movement

14:17 – The future: From Generative AI to AGI

15:31 – New jobs, new leadership, and managing intelligent systems

16:13 – How AI will reshape energy companies in the next 3 years

17:21 – Why every organization must embrace AI now

17:44 – Closing thoughts and gratitude

18:09 – How you can support and stay connected

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