ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE


From curiosity to capability: Embracing AI with intent and integrity


Colin Morton, Specialty Chemicals Industry Consultant


Artificial intelligence has passed the point of curiosity in the lubricants industry. It is no longer a distant horizon or a technology reserved for the boldest outliers. AI is increasingly emerging as a credible capability, embedded in software tools, influencing workflows, and reshaping how we think about value, efficiency and innovation.


This special edition of Lube Magazine could not be more timely. As the sector stands at an inflection point, this issue aims to help make sense of the opportunities, responsibilities, and real-world lessons emerging from early AI adoption.


We must recognise what this moment represents: a chance not only to integrate powerful new tools, but to reimagine how we work, compete and lead.


A transformational moment - if we choose it AI’s recent breakthrough, especially in generative and agentic capabilities, are frequently described in terms of scale and acceleration. However, the most profound changes may come not from speed, but from direction.


When a system can interpret, create, design, and plan, it doesn’t just automate existing tasks - it enables entirely new possibilities. Tasks once dismissed as too complex, expensive, or time-intensive can now be approached with fresh ambition.


Within the lubricants value chain, this could mean:


• Predictive maintenance powered by real-time data and anomaly detection.


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• Accelerated formulation development through AI-assisted modelling and simulation.


• Process optimisation that learns and adapts continuously.


• Enhanced technical services through intelligent documentation and solution engines.


• Smarter supply chains with dynamic demand forecasting and inventory control.


• Marketing and insight generation from AI-analysed trends and customer signals that reveal hidden opportunities.


These are not theoretical use cases - they are fast becoming practical advantages. The companies that invest in their understanding and application today may be better placed to navigate the market forces of tomorrow.


LUBE MAGAZINE AR TIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DECEMBER 2025


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