OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at a conference in Washington
Oil’s fragile AI trillions
Prices risk hitting $10/bl should the tech bubble burst amid worrying economic fallout
The global oil market will confront a surplus of 3m b/d for the rest of 2025 and 2.4m b/d in 2026, according to the IEA. By the end of next year, world stocks will be 1.1b bl higher if these projections are correct. This assumes, of course, that someone will buy the oil and that there is adequate storage capacity to hold it. More significantly, it assumes the current AI ‘bubble’ does not pop. Thus, today, one person, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, stands between the current oil price and oil at $10/bl. Altman founded his firm just ten years ago. Although the company is privately owned, various estimates put its value at around $500b. In contrast, ExxonMobil, which has existed for more than a century
Also in this section
6 February 2026
The long close relationship between key supplier Qatar and pivotal buyer Japan becomes even deeper following new landmark deal
6 February 2026
Partnerships across the LNG value chain have evolved over time, growing in both complexity and importance, according to panellists at LNG2026
6 February 2026
Nigeria's mega-refinery is still trying to solve many challenges, all while its owner talks up expansion
5 February 2026
While broadly supportive of EU efforts to tackle methane emissions, representatives of the gas industry warn it could deter supply contracting if timelines and compliance requirements are not made more pragmatic
