Abstract: As the "decision-making brain" of a pipeline network system, the control centre is a comprehensive decision-making control centre that integrates large amounts of data, rules and expert experience. It is very similar to the development idea and evolution direction of a new generation of artificial intelligence characterized by data driving. Herein, the intelligent and digital transformation plans for the control business of the pipeline companies and the power grid companies at home and abroad were analyzed, and the latest research results were summarized. Then, combined with the latest development of artificial intelligence technology, the basic concepts and functional characteristics of intelligent control were preliminarily put forward based on the demand of natural gas pipeline networks for the control business, namely, to achieve the intelligent perception, prediction and early warning, optimal decision-making, and intelligent control, and ultimately to realize the intelligent control mode based on black screen. Subsequently, the architecture of intelligent control was designed, and the key technologies of the intelligent control layer and the intelligent decision layer, as well as their potential application scenarios, were analyzed. Finally, the research results are expected to provide reference for the development and application of artificial intelligence in the control of pipeline networks in the future.