# Can AI revolutionize grid operations?

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2026-08-20
- Length: 39m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-20-can-ai-revolutionize-grid-operations

## Summary

Josh Wong, CEO and founder of ThinkLabs AI, explains how utility planning is currently siloed, reliant on manual data cleaning, and stuck in a cycle of worst-case scenario studies that identify problems but not solutions. He describes ThinkLabs' physics-informed AI, which trains deterministic models on specific utility data to generate grid solutions in minutes rather than months, drastically reducing interconnection queue times. Wong argues that this technology bridges the gap between planning and operations, enabling continuous real-time analysis and closed-loop feedback to improve reliability and workforce efficiency.

## Chapters

- [3:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-20-can-ai-revolutionize-grid-operations#t=207) Introduction: Josh Wong and ThinkLabs AI
- [4:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-20-can-ai-revolutionize-grid-operations#t=249) Utility Planning Silos and Manual Data Cleaning
- [8:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-20-can-ai-revolutionize-grid-operations#t=509) Worst-Case Scenario Planning and Overbuild
- [13:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-20-can-ai-revolutionize-grid-operations#t=826) Physics-Informed AI vs. General LLMs
- [23:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-20-can-ai-revolutionize-grid-operations#t=1427) Utility Operations: Alarm Management and Dispatch
- [28:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-20-can-ai-revolutionize-grid-operations#t=1733) Bridging Planning and Operations with AI
- [35:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-20-can-ai-revolutionize-grid-operations#t=2101) Data Center Microgrids as Micro-Utilities

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- ThinkLabs AI (company)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- EnergyHub (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- SEE (company)
- ADMS (tool)
- SkADO (tool)
- PMUs (tool)

## 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)
- [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)
- [AI, Digital Transformation, and Innovations with Arch Systems Cofounder and CEO, Andrew Scheuermann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-11-14-ai-digital-transformation-and-innovations-with-arch-systems-cofounder-and-ceo-an) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [How IoT Improves Infrastructure | Unearth's Brian Saab](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-06-23-how-iot-improves-infrastructure-unearths-brian-saab) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Generative AI for Dirty Jobs—The Next Industrial Revolution?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-05-20-generative-ai-for-dirty-jobs-the-next-industrial-revolution) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-20-can-ai-revolutionize-grid-operations. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.