ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE


AI and the lubricants industry: Optimism, barriers, and the road ahead


Max Marioni, Project Lead, Kline


Is AI going to transform the lubricants industry or is it going to slip by?


There’s been a lot of grandiose talk on the transformational potential of Artificial intelligence. However, do those promises outweigh the costs for the lubricants sector? Is there enough real-world application to justify the investment? These questions are not unique to the lubricants industry. Manufacturing, chemicals, and even service industries are facing the same debates.


To explore this, Kline & Company partnered with the UK Lubricants Association (UKLA) to survey professionals across global lubricant manufacturers, distributors, consultants, and service providers. The goal was to capture sentiment, readiness, and challenges around AI adoption.


What does the company you represent do in the lubricants industry?


The responses reveal a sector split on the role that AI can play. Some are optimistic, while others are more cautious, and a third cohort are dismissive. As one respondent put it, the speed of adoption elsewhere has been “frightening”, while another predicted “huge changes” ahead. For others, AI is still “just an upgraded search engine”. These contrasting views set the tone for a nuanced discussion about AI readiness.


Strategic intent vs. practical reality How important is AI to your business?


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LUBE MAGAZINE AR TIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DECEMBER 2025


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