On August 20, 2025, at the Tory Users Summit, Tory Technologies hosted a groundbreaking panel discussion that delved into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) within the company and the broader energy industry. This event brought together experts from various sectors to share their insights, experiences, and visions for the future of AI. Here’s a look at the key takeaways from this enlightening session.
Tory Technologies’ AI Vision
Tory Technologies is at the forefront of leveraging AI to enhance user experiences and improve internal services. Their approach includes:
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- Predictive AI based on historical data
- AI-driven help and configuration guidance
- Advanced querying of large datasets
A highlight of the session was the live demonstration of “TOBOT,” Tory-Tech’s AI assistant. TOBOT is designed to interact with client databases and knowledge bases, offering contextual responses to user queries and streamlining data retrieval processes.
Understanding AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)
The panel provided an accessible crash course on AI categories, including predictive AI, generative AI exemplified by ChatGPT, and multimodal AI that integrates text, images, and voice.
It was explained the fundamentals of LLMs, including the transformer architecture that predicts the next word based on vast datasets, enabling the generation of coherent text. The speakers emphasized the scale and complexity of these models, noting ChatGPT’s 175 billion parameters and the extensive training data required. Concepts such as retrieval-augmented generation and agentic AI, which autonomously pursue goals by integrating external data and tools, were also discussed.
Industry Panel Insights on AI Adoption
Panelists from Microsoft, Enbridge, Marathon Pipeline, and Phillips 66 shared their experiences and perspectives on AI integration in operational settings. Among the key topics discussed were:
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- Highlighted AI’s role in transforming enterprise data interaction, emphasizing natural language as a new user interface and the infusion of AI Copilot to enhance productivity and decision-making. They stressed the importance of data governance and security in AI deployment.
- Cautious, incremental AI adoption focused on building capacity and trust among employees, with small-scale projects deploying AI agents to solve specific problems.
- Operational use cases like optimizing fractionation and managing measurement exceptions, aiming to shift focus from low-value tasks to higher-value activities through AI.
- Emphasized the value of AI in volumetric data management and operational optimization, with a focus on leveraging AI to aid controllers in decision-making and reduce errors.
Challenges and Strategies for AI Implementation
The panel addressed challenges such as organizational trust, adoption barriers, and bias in AI models. They noted the need for champions within organizations to drive AI projects, the importance of cross-functional collaboration, and the gradual scaling of AI use from individual users to enterprise-wide adoption.
Feedback loops involving qualified personnel were identified as critical for validating AI outputs and improving model accuracy.
The discussion also covered data privacy concerns, the necessity of guardrails, and the risk of employees using unauthorized AI tools that could compromise proprietary information.
Addressing Bias and Model Validation
Panelists acknowledged inherent biases in AI models due to training data limitations and emphasized using multiple models to mitigate bias. They highlighted ongoing research and techniques such as ensemble modeling to improve reliability.
The conversation underscored the importance of transparency, human oversight, and continuous evaluation to ensure AI recommendations are trustworthy and aligned with organizational goals.
Future Directions and AI in Tory Technologies
The discussion concluded with reflections on the future role of AI in the industry. Tory Technologies aims to integrate AI deeply into control room environments and measurement teams as decision support tools and as expert assistants. TOBOT exemplifies this vision by providing flexible, conversational querying of operational data. Panelists expressed optimism about AI’s potential to improve safety, operational excellence, and knowledge retention, citing examples from other sectors, such as law, where AI captures retiring employees’ expertise for future use. The session ended with a commitment to cautious, collaborative innovation and ongoing learning in AI applications.
Tory Technologies, Inc., also known as Tory-Tech, is a Houston-based corporation founded in 2012, that designs, develops, integrates, and deploys intuitive corporate software solutions for Control Room Management and Volumetric Data Management. Decades of expertise in software development and implementation have resulted in a unique suite of solutions specifically designed to solve critical challenges in control rooms and flow measurement departments.
Interested in working with a SOC 1 and SOC 2 compliant company? Contact us to learn more about our control room management software, MaCRoM®, and our volumetric data management software, COSMOS®.