More than a century ago, America’s first great energy transformation was powered by light. Edison’s electric bulbs lit New York City, backed by coal and industrial grit. It was an engineering feat that redefined modern life.
Today, we’re entering into the next great transformation, this time powered by intelligence. AI is fast becoming the most powerful technology humanity has ever created. But like the grid (and grit) before it, we will only be as strong as the system that delivers it.
With AI booming and data centers are multiplying: Who will power it all?
The big question now isn’t just what AI can do. It’s who will power it. Who can best meet the needs of clean, reliable and affordable? Can utilities keep up? Or will the tech sector build a better version?
In Gridlocked, a six-part special series from Energy Central’s Piloting the Future, we unpack the high-stakes showdown between utilities and tech giants in the race to fuel the AI-powered digital economy.
We'll go behind the scenes with energy insiders, industry provocateurs, and heavyweights to explore whether the incumbents of infrastructure, or the disruptors of digital, will win the battle for grid supremacy. Who will win the battle to power our AI-driven energy future and will it come in time for the US to win the proverbial AI race against China? These are the thought provoking topics that we'll explore.
From capital investment and innovation spend to reliability, regulation, and investor confidence, each episode dissects the core advantages shaping the power struggle.
🎧 Upcoming Episodes Include:
The Capital Advantage | Who’s writing the biggest checks and has the greatest pull to power AI: utilities or hyperscalers?
The Innovation Advantage | Why the R&D gap could rewrite the rules of the grid.
The Affordability Advantage | Can mega-scale data-centers redistribute energy economics?
The Reliability Advantage | As demand soars, who ensures always-on compute doesn’t crash the grid? And, what happens when all the data the utility needs to respond to storms and other threats are in the cloud?
The Investor Advantage | Which narrative will attract the capital: stability or speed?
The Last Disrupted Industry? | Is the energy sector finally facing its digital reckoning?
Why It Matters
Data is the new gold. AI is the new electricity. But the grid is still powered by the same electrons, and we’re nearing a turning point. Utilities built the backbone of our energy system. Tech giants famous for their tech stacks are now building their own generation stacks.
PTF Gridlocked is your front-row seat to the battle that could shape the next century of power.
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