Artificial Intelligence, or “AI”, is making headlines in the news and seems like a new concept to many; however, AI has been incorporated into our everyday lives and workplaces for years. When you search online, you’ve probably started to see targeted ads that reflect your interests on your social media. Or perhaps you use Alexa or Siri to help you find what you are looking for. These are all versions of AI that many people use on a regular basis.
It was actually back in the 1950s when artificial intelligence first gained its name. Back then, large machines were taking data and organizing it by following a set of rules or programming that were put in place by human intervention.
Fast forward to today when the rapid evolution of AI is now playing a major role in our ability to navigate the internet, complete multi-step workflows, create efficiencies, and handle more tasks that require less human interaction and input.
The electric industry is being transformed by the use of AI. From energy generation to distribution, AI is making an impact. Predictive models are used to identify energy use, weather patterns, outages, and more. This reduces unscheduled down times and allows cooperatives to take a more proactive approach. Many companies, including utilities, utilize chatbots and virtual assistants that offer inquiries 24/7 to customers. While TWEC has not incorporated this feature at this time, it is just another example of AI use that has been around for many years.
Unfortunately, AI has also allowed hackers/bad actors to more easily go on the attack, develop code, fake an email, or even sound like a legitimate person on the other side of a telephone. Here at TWEC, we are taking a proactive approach in our cybersecurity – utilizing AI as one of many tools we have in place to protect against an attack. It is of the utmost importance to keep your data secure in an ever-changing world of technology.
