Sam Altman · Abu Dhabi · OpenAI · Crypto Briefing
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the energy cost of a single AI query has collapsed
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He said it at an oil and gas conference, flanked by an announcement with a national oil company.
Key facts
- The remarks came at the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi on November 2, 2026
- Altman’s 1,000x to 100,000x range is his own estimate, delivered with a hedge, and no breakdown of how it was calculated accompanied the remarks
- Altman also used the stage to announce a multi-year partnership between OpenAI, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Abu Dhabi-based AI firm G42
- Speaking at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi, the OpenAI chief paired big efficiency claims with a warning that energy remains AI's biggest constraint
Summary
Speaking at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi, the OpenAI chief paired big efficiency claims with a warning that energy remains AI's biggest constraint. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the energy cost of a single AI query has collapsed. The remarks came at the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi on November 2, 2026. Note the “maybe.” It carries real weight in that sentence, and the range itself spans two full orders of magnitude.