Total working with Mistral AI to develop AI solutions for energy

TotalEnergies is collaborating with French artificial intelligence firm Mistral AI to support its multi-energy strategy, especially in low-carbon energies. Under terms of the partnership, the companies will set up and staff a joint innovation lab. Mistral AI will contribute its technologies and Total its expertise in energy production to test and design advanced digital solutions, the supermajor said.

The first envisioned use cases will be designing an assistant for Total’s 1,000 researchers to support their mission to develop new energies and reduce the company’s environmental footprint; develop decision-support solutions to enhance performance of its industrial assets and lower CO2 emissions; and implement support solutions aimed at improving the customer experience and helping them save energy. The joint lab will also test digital solutions for other use cases, especially renewable energy production.

Total is not new to using AI in its operations. The supermajor’s Digital Factory has been operational for five years and now has 300 developers, data scientists and other digital experts. It has already developed more than 100 solutions, 60 of which harness machine learning or generative AI. The company said it has used AI in earth science, as well as to improve predictive maintenance and detect issues with machinery at its facilities. It also uses AI to develop new opportunities in producing renewable energy, reducing CO2 emissions and developing services to allow customers to control and optimize energy use.

“We are delighted to work with Mistral AI, a leading French player in artificial intelligence,” Total CEO Patrick Pouyanné said. “This deal reflects our intention to contribute to the emergence of a technological ecosystem in Europe, and will allow us to explore new opportunities to further embed AI into our activities. AI has huge potential to transform energy systems, and this partnership was motivated by our pioneering spirit and ongoing search for innovation.”