Global energy tech company SLB (formerly Schlumberger) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Qualcomm Technologies to develop edge AI systems for the energy industry.

The collaboration combines Qualcomm’s low-power edge computing and AI processing capabilities with SLB’s Agora™ edge AI and IoT offerings for remote and operationally complex environments to enable AI applications. The deal focuses on improving real-time operational performance across wells, facilities, and production systems, particularly in areas where efficiency and reliability can be impacted by connectivity constraints.

The collaboration reflects growing industry interest in bringing AI closer to operations to support more autonomous and resilient energy systems, SLB said. By bringing AI closer to field operations rather than relying solely on centralized computing systems, the companies aim to enhance operational responsiveness, reliability, and cybersecurity while helping customers modernize legacy infrastructure. The systems are expected to fuel demand for agentic AI applications that are capable of making swifter and more informed decisions directly at the operational edge.

“Together, SLB and Qualcomm Technologies aim to help operators apply AI more effectively across energy infrastructure,” said Rakesh Jaggi, president of digital, at SLB. “Many energy operations rely on real-time decision-making in remote environments where connectivity and responsiveness directly affect performance. AI systems designed around the realities of energy operations can help support more consistent and autonomous workflows across those environments.”

The two companies said the partnership is designed to support energy operators’ increasing adoption of automation and autonomous workflows to improve efficiency.

Automation and autonomous workflows across production environments are increasingly being implemented by energy operators, driving demand for agentic AI systems that can run closer to operations rather than relying solely on centralized systems. In remote energy infrastructure where connectivity, latency and operational continuity are critical, bringing AI closer to equipment and operational workflows can help support more responsive and resilient operations. This collaboration is expected to help operators modernize legacy operational environments while strengthening cybersecurity across operational technology layers.

“Many industrial environments require AI systems that can operate with limited power, constrained connectivity, separation between operational technology and information technology environments, and real-time operational demands,” said Nakul Duggal, executive vice president and group general manager of automotive, industrial, and embedded IoT and robotics at Qualcomm. “This collaboration brings Qualcomm Technologies’ low-power AI processing closer to energy operations, alongside operating assets, helping enable edge intelligence for new use cases and supporting progress toward more autonomous workflows.”

Operating in over 120 countries, SLB specializes in reservoir evaluation, well construction, production technologies, and digital/AI systems to optimize oil and gas extraction and advance low-carbon energy systems.