# The early days of AI on the grid

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2024-03-08
- Length: 37m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid

## Summary

David Groarke, managing director at Indigo Advisory Group, discusses the state of AI in the US utility sector, contrasting the current software-driven wave with the failed hardware-focused smart meter rollout of the 2000s. He highlights three key use cases: wildfire management using camera and lidar data, customer propensity modeling to detect EVs via smart meter data, and predictive maintenance of substations. Groarke argues that while full grid automation is a distant goal, incremental AI applications are already delivering value by leveraging existing infrastructure and open-source tools.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid#t=1) Introduction: David Groarke and the State of AI in Utilities
- [4:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid#t=251) Why AI Now: The Failure of the First Smart Grid Wave
- [9:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid#t=592) Barriers to Entry: Grid Physics and Data Granularity
- [17:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid#t=1052) Use Case 1: Wildfire Management with Computer Vision
- [20:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid#t=1252) Use Case 2: Customer Propensity Modeling and EV Detection
- [24:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid#t=1483) Use Case 3: Substation Asset Management and Transmission Optimization
- [29:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid#t=1798) Startups vs. Incumbents: Who is Leading AI Innovation?
- [34:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid#t=2077) Future Outlook: Incremental Change vs. Full Automation

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Indigo Advisory Group (company)
- PG&E (company)
- Duke Energy (company)
- Southern California Edison (company)
- ABB (company)
- Siemens (company)
- Schneider Electric (company)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)
- TensorFlow (tool)
- PyTorch (tool)
- LIDAR (tool)
- AMI (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How Computer Vision Ensures Grid Reliability | Noteworthy AI's Chris Ricciuti | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2025-01-14-how-computer-vision-ensures-grid-reliability-noteworthy-ais-chris-ricciuti-inter) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-09-05-managing-energy-at-the-edge-navigating-the-modern-grid-with-itron) (Over the Air)
- [Smart Grid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid) (EE Times Current)
- [Aligning Passion With Purpose: A Journey to Electrification and Sustainability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-06-17-aligning-passion-with-purpose-a-journey-to-electrification-and-sustainability) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Decentralizing the Energy Grid | Evergen's Nick McGrath | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-11-15-decentralizing-the-energy-grid-evergens-nick-mcgrath-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)

## Citing this page

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