Digital twins have become an increasingly important part of industrial operations, but what happens when they move beyond representation and begin actively supporting decision-making? In this thought leadership presentation at Future Digital Twin & AI USA 2026, Abhishek Balakrishnan, CTO at DNV’s ENB Systems division, explores the evolution from digital twins to what he describes as “decision twins” and the role AI can play in strengthening operational judgement, assurance and trust.
Drawing on DNV‘s experience in high-consequence industries, the presentation examines how AI can be applied to real engineering workflows rather than existing as a standalone technology layer. Through practical examples spanning process safety, asset integrity, pipeline operations and offshore energy systems, Abhishek demonstrates how digital twins can become more useful when they help engineers interpret information, assess risk and act with greater confidence.
The session also challenges conventional thinking about how engineers interact with complex industrial systems. From large-scale visualisation environments to AI-assisted reviews and connected knowledge systems, Abhishek explores how new interfaces and workflows could transform the way teams collaborate, investigate issues and make decisions across increasingly data-rich environments.
Watch the full presentation to discover how DNV is approaching the next generation of digital twins, and why trust, assurance and human-centred decision support may prove just as important as the technology itself in unlocking real operational value.
Speakers
- Abhishek Balakrishnan , Chief Technology Officer, ANB Systems (DNV)
