Interview

AI and advanced analytics are transforming the energy sector, but rapid innovation brings challenges like tech debt and complexity. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (CPChem) is tackling these head-on with a strategy focused on high-value, resilient solutions.

Brent Railey, CPChem's Chief Data & Analytics Officer, has led efforts to centralize technology decisions, reduce complexity and design modular architectures that adapt to emerging trends like Generative AI. His approach ensures ROI outweighs risk, even in a fast-changing landscape.

In this exclusive interview, you will learn:

• How CPChem evaluates AI investments to stay ahead without overcommitting to early-stage technologies
• Practical steps for reducing complexity and building trust in AI solutions
• Why data governance and integration are key to unlocking enterprise-wide value
• The promise, and current limitations, of Agentic AI in oil and gas operations

AI is redefining industrial and manufacturing operations, but innovation at speed brings real challenges, including legacy systems, tech-debt and ethical risks. The U.S. Air Force is approaching these challenges head-on with a strategy built on resilience, governance and future-proof design.

Deepak Sachdeva, Chief Information Officer at the U.S. Air Force, is driving initiatives that balance cutting-edge AI with security, compliance and operational continuity. With a focus on modular architectures, hybrid data strategies and the ethical frameworks that scale without compromising trust.

In this exclusive interview, you will discover:

• How the U.S. Air Force bridges legacy systems with modern AI without disrupting mission-critical operations
• Steps to embed ethics and governance into every AI deployment
• Why hybrid data models deliver resilience in connected environments.
  

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, dominated by Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI, companies are racing to boost productivity and increase efficiency. However, these advancements bring their own set of challenges and user experiences.

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, a leader in the petrochemical industry, is currently at the forefront of redefining how technology supports its connected workforce. To learn more about how the company is leveraging AI and data analytics to optimize operations and empower its workforce, we spoke with Chevron Phillips’ Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Brent Railey.

Having worked at Chevron Phillips for over 20 years in various domestic and international roles, Brent has played a pivotal role in forming the first Data Science Team. Before stepping into a leadership role, he implemented tools like Power BI and Seeq for time-series analytics and contributed to the company’s digital transformation program, building and leading the data science team, whilst also supporting the formation of a data engineering team.

Read as he shares insights into:

• The challenges and opportunities of deploying cutting-edge technologies like Generative AI
• How to leverage AI and data analytics to streamline operational processes
• The best metrics to track and assess the impact of both operational efficiency and user experience
• How to measure the ROI of your AI initiatives

One of the world’s leading manufacturers, Covestro, is known within the industrial sector for consistently pushing boundaries through digital transformation and innovation. Covestro have already made considerable progress in digital advancement, and the company is now rolling out Digital Twin technology at all major locations, aiming to support safe, reliable and efficient production.

Ahead of the previous Connected Worker: Energy Summit, we caught up with Bharat Marwaha, Global Product Owner for Covestro Monitoring Platform at Covestro.

Read as he delves into:

• The key driver behind the implementation of digital twin technology
• How effective the use of digital twin technology is in simulating the management of assets, and if there were any unexpected limitations in forecasting potential scenarios
• An example of where a simulation didn’t produce the expected results
• How Covestro has balanced the immediate costs of digital twin implementation against the long-term efficiency gains
• The next steps for improving and expanding the use of digital twins
  

As the energy sector continues to grow and expand operations, prioritizing worker safety has become more crucial than ever. Technological advancements present the sector with new and innovative ways to connect with and support its workforce. While these technologies offer substantial benefits, decision-makers still have a long way to go in terms of successful implementation and integration.

Ahead of the previous 2025 Connected Worker: Energy Summit, we spoke with event speakers Ted Stoves, Product Owner, Connected Worker Group at Chevron, and Mason Jones, Manufacturing Digital Manager at Chevron Phillips Chemical, about the implementation of connected worker safety technologies within their operations.

Read as they share exclusive insights into the impact of real-time location services (RTLS) in improving field worker safety at Chevron, and how mobile applications have transformed the way field workers interact with safety systems at Chevron Phillips Chemical.