Harnessing the power of AI to drive operational excellence across the industrial landscape.
Ai-OPs is a U.S.-based software company pioneering AI-driven solutions tailored for heavy industry and complex operations. Our flagship platform brings real-time optimization, predictive insights, and anomaly detection to frontline processes—turning data into dollars at every level.
Whether it's stabilizing froth levels in an SFR reactor, balancing parallel crude units, or reducing energy spend, Ai-OPs delivers actionable intelligence where it matters most: the plant floor.
Our models don't just predict—they stabilize, optimize, and protect.
We build tools that empower operators, not replace them.
Every deployment is measured in weeks, not quarters.
Ai-OPs was founded by a team of engineers, data scientists, and industry veterans who saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between industrial systems and cutting-edge AI. What began as a skunkworks project inside a process engineering firm quickly evolved into a standalone company serving clients across North America, the Middle East, and beyond.
2020 – Became the first company in the world to implement direct process control using reinforcement learning, pioneering AI‑driven, closed‑loop optimization of industrial processes.
From our first deployment at a refinery in the Gulf Coast to our current partnerships with global reps and integrators, Ai-OPs has grown into a trusted name in AI-powered industrial optimization.
CEO & Co-Founder
Phillip Hansel is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ai-OPs, where he drives the integration of AI into industrial operations through advanced edge-based software and hardware. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and brings over 16 years of experience leading control systems engineering and capital projects across industries including oil & gas, chemicals, power, and manufacturing. Phillip has consistently held leadership roles, guiding complex deployments and identifying high-impact opportunities for AI. His mission is to empower engineers and operators by reducing workload, not replacing expertise—delivering sustainable, ROI-focused innovation to the world's most critical infrastructure.
CAO & Co-Founder
Curtis Wright is a seasoned mechanical engineer with extensive experience across the defense, energy, and oil & gas sectors. With a Master's in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Auburn University, his expertise spans artificial intelligence, optimization, and machine learning. As Lead Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton, Curtis has spearheaded innovative AI applications for predictive maintenance, computer vision, and cloud-based deployments. He pioneered the use of reinforcement learning for direct control of industrial processes and held various engineering roles at Chevron, managing multimillion-dollar operations and developing automated systems to enhance efficiency and decision-making. He holds a Professional Engineer license in Alabama and brings a unique blend of field engineering, software development, and leadership to every project.
CTO & Co-Founder
Ryan Hutchison is the Chief Technology Officer at Ai-OPs, leveraging extensive expertise in engineering, systems integration, and software development. His career began with four years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, followed by earning a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of South Alabama. Ryan brings over a decade of experience as a systems integrator, delivering complex projects before specializing in large-scale distributed software systems. At Ai-OPs, he focuses on technology strategy, innovation, and building scalable, reliable architectures. Outside of technology, Ryan enjoys outdoor activities and spending quality time with family and friends.
CPO & Co-Founder
Connor Smith is an accomplished engineer with a degree in Electrical Engineering and a proven track record of leading product design initiatives across both software platforms and heavy industrial control systems. With a career grounded in merging complex engineering with intuitive user experiences, Connor has become a recognized leader in the development of industrial tools, APIs, and interfaces. His work emphasizes functional elegance and operational clarity, positioning him as a guidepost for how human-centric design can unlock efficiency and usability in automation and control. From embedded systems to AI-integrated platforms, Connor’s impact is consistently measured in both performance improvements and user satisfaction.
Vice President Sales and Global Business Development
Ian Campbell is a global executive with over 20 years of leadership experience spanning AI, mining, biotech, and industrial automation. As Vice President of Sales and Global Business Development at AI-Ops, he helps heavy industry leverage AI to reduce operational risk and optimize performance. Previously, Ian served as CEO of FLSmidth Automation in Europe, where he led the global business for automated laboratory systems in mining and cement. He was also the Regional CEO of Maccaferri North America. A geoscientist by training, Ian holds an M.Sc. in Earth Sciences and has been a Professional Geoscientist in good standing since 2003. He is a named inventor on multiple patents and combines scientific depth with strategic insight to drive innovation and commercial success.
With headquarters in Mobile, AL and reps in the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, Ai-OPs operates globally to support localized deployments and 24/7 service needs.
Questions? Ready to deploy Ai-OPs at your facility? We'd love to hear from you.
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