The EIGA Winter Summit 2025 opened in Antwerp with discussions centered on AI’s role in industrial safety and operations. While AI has been making headlines for its breakthroughs in automation, predictive modelling, and generative tools, speakers at the event took a more grounded approach – exploring what AI actually means for industry beyond the hype.
On the first day, Dado Van Peteghem, Founder at Imagin3-Studio, set the stage with a broader look at AI’s rapid evolution, tracing its rise from early computing to today’s widespread integration across industries.
Reflecting on how younger, digital-native generations are shaping AI adoption, he remarked, “Now we have, of course, high-speed internet. [Before that] came social media: Facebook in 2004 and now, of course, a new generation – TikTok, Snapchat, even Instagram, for them, is already a bit classic. It’s a bit old for young people.” AI, he argued, is following a similar curve, embedding itself into workplaces, industry, and daily life.
Alessandro Giassi, who spoke about AI for primary production and safety.
Despite its potential, Van Peteghem cautioned that AI’s widespread adoption raises ethical and security concerns. “It has been already said […] it’s AI everywhere. [This presents] lots of opportunities, but also some question marks. What about security? What about ethics? Are we ready for this as a society?” While enthusiasm for AI continues to grow, the question remains whether companies and policymakers are truly prepared for its implications.
The discussion set the stage for Alessandro Giassi, Data Acceleration Director at Air Liquide, who focused on how AI is already being used in industrial safety and operations. He highlighted the challenge of extracting useful information from large volumes of industrial data, explaining, “One of the most valuable applications is the richness of information. We can use AI to process this data, to improve how we analyse it.”
His focus has been on applying AI to safety risk assessment and operational efficiency. Using AI-powered models, companies can predict and mitigate industrial hazards before they escalate into major incidents.
While the idea of preventing accidents before they happen might sound like something out of Minority Report, this is not science fiction. AI is increasingly capable of identifying risks early, using historical data, patterns and real-time monitoring to alert operators to potential dangers before they become critical.
“When accidents happen, they are well documented, stored, and analysed. AI allows us to detect patterns, track trends, and even predict risks before they occur.”
©Air Liquide/EIGA
AI’s ability to map hazard zones within industrial facilities was another key point. “This red zone is about accident risk. Here is the zone where the process-related threats occur.”
By analysing near-miss reports and accident data, AI can identify high-risk areas that may otherwise go unnoticed. “Many reports come from voluntary submissions, and the language is often inconsistent. AI helps us standardise this data, making it useful for decision-making.”
One of the biggest challenges in industrial safety, he noted, is ensuring that junior employees can effectively navigate complex safety documentation. AI is beginning to bridge this gap by making safety knowledge more accessible and searchable. “We decided to provide them with an AI system that gives access to all the old documents. They can interact with it using natural language and find the right information.” This technology could significantly reduce errors and improve response times in industrial settings.
While AI in industrial safety is still in development, its potential for accident prevention and real-time risk analysis is becoming increasingly clear.
The discussions at the event reflected a shift from seeing AI as a futuristic concept to recognising it as a tool already reshaping industrial safety and operations. While Van Peteghem framed AI as a powerful but unpredictable force, Giassi demonstrated its immediate, practical applications in risk management and efficiency.
Whether the industrial sector can keep up with AI’s rapid evolution remains to be seen, but as the conference made clear, digital transformation is no longer optional and those who refuse to adapt may well be left behind. This sentiment was echoed by Van Peteghen, who added, “Humans will not be replaced by AI. Humans will be replaced by humans using AI.”
