About AI and power

THE LAW OF ALL PROGRESS - Digital solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) lie at the core of many responses coming both from Government and civil society groups to address the recent corruption scandals and the public clamor for genuine transparency in the budget process.

- MONALISA C. DIMALANTA

For instance, Senate Bill No. 1506, or the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (or the CADENA Bill) builds on the use of blockchain technology and digital portals to ensure transparency and accountability in the budget making and monitoring processes. It was reported to be on a fast-track lane for approval, having passed third reading at the Senate in December last year. Two weeks ago, the Executive’s economic managers also unveiled what they call “Big Bold Reforms,” most of which expectedly focused on streamlining processes to promote ease of doing business, relying largely on a digitally-transformed the bureaucracy. Then, just a few days ago, the President was also reported to have signed the National Digital Connectivity Plan with a vision towards a Digitally Connected Philippines.

It is thus not surprising that these conversation highways will land — indeed, MUST land — at some point on some fundamental questions: How do we ensure that our power system will have the capacity to support a Digitally Connected Philippines? What does this digital transformation mean for our power system? What impact does AI have on the way the different components of our power systems (grid and off-grid) work? What form (or forms) of power infrastructures do we need to realize and sustain these reforms to generate positive transformation?

Today, discussions around the impact of AI on power have been focused largely on smart grids, advanced metering infrastructure (AMD) and data centers — all presenting opportunities to pursue economic progress and with issues that are valid and deserve proper attention.

We will need, however, to push the debates beyond these current limits if we are to truly seize this opportunity in history to forge a better future for our country.