Gridlocked: Who Will Power the New AI Driven Future?

🎙️New Piloting the Future Podcast Alert! "Gridlocked" 002 just dropped! In this episode we ask, "Can utilities Keep up with Big Tech Innovation?"

This is one of the most thought-provoking conversations we’ve had on the future of energy, AI, and where the innovation advantage really lies thanks to the contribution from our featured guests:

Erik Helland: Commissioner, Iowa Utility Commission

Jason Wild: Co‑Author of the forthcoming book Genius at Scale

Mike Smith: Principal at KLN Group

Listen now at the Energy Central Podcast Network: https://lnkd.in/euBcj-Mk

According to EEI, U.S. utilities are projected to make over $1.1T in capital investments by 2029 to modernize the grid and meet growing demand. Yet when it comes to R&D, utilities are investing a fraction of revenue, often well under 1%, leaving a wide gap compared to technology firms.

Meanwhile, Big Tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are each investing tens of billions annually into innovation, building AI tools, infrastructure, and systems that may become central to energy’s next frontier. One tech giant outspends the entire industry multiple times.

What does this investment mismatch mean for the future of the grid, energy costs, and what that means as tech giants will power new large generations stacks at the edge. If you care about innovation in energy, you won’t want to miss this episode! 

Join the conversation, we explore:

• Are utilities spending enough on R&D? Could low spending become a competitive weakness?

• A regulator’s perspective – what could we be doing differently?

• What energy innovation really looks like at the intersection of AI, infrastructure, and policy?

• Listen now at the Energy Central Podcast Network: https://lnkd.in/euBcj-Mk