The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is preparing to launch a pilot programme using “Genie,” a generative AI system developed by energy services firm OATI.
Genie is designed to streamline grid operations by scanning outage reports, extracting key details, and generating real-time analysis for operators. Traditionally, engineers manually read through outage notes and enter them into system software—a time-consuming process when faced with hundreds of incidents. With AI, this workload is consolidated and automated, improving both speed and consistency.
The pilot will be announced at the DTECH Midwest summit. If successful, CAISO could expand AI involvement in other grid functions, gradually shifting from manual inputs to automated, sensor-driven decision-making. This would be a major leap forward for an industry that has long relied on fragmented, department-specific systems developed over decades.
The move is part of a broader trend. Other US grid operators such as PJM Interconnection have recently partnered with tech firms like Google to enhance regional planning through AI. ERCOT, which operates Texas’s grid, is also exploring similar technology.
Internationally, Australia has already deployed AI on its grids. In New South Wales, software launched in early 2025 now predicts solar production from rooftop panels and adjusts grid input dynamically.
Experts say the use of AI could improve outage response, forecasting, and grid planning. A US Department of Energy report noted AI’s potential to enhance studies of grid capacity, renewable forecasting, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Source: MIT Technology Review
