International experts convened during the session titled “Avoiding Inequalities in the Speed of Energy Transition,” which was part of the annual meetings of the Global Future Councils and Cybersecurity 2025, to discuss the growing necessity of artificial intelligence in enhancing development and innovation in the global energy sector.
The session featured Doug Arent, the Executive Director of the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Eric Baradach, the General Manager at the United States, and Elizabeth Thorburn, a professor of international political economy and director of the Green Energy Management Project at the University of New South Wales, Australia. Vijay Vithianathan Faithiswaran, the global innovation editor for energy and climate at The Economist, moderated the discussion.
The speakers emphasized the importance of improving energy networks through artificial intelligence and advanced energy storage technologies, highlighting AI’s critical role in enhancing energy efficiency amidst rising demand.
Elizabeth Thorburn stressed the need for legislation and regulations governing the generation and use of artificial intelligence to promote sustainability values from the outset of energy production and generation.
Eric Baradach noted that the benefits of artificial intelligence applications in the energy sector do not reach all communities equally and that there are varied impacts across different sectors within those communities.
Meanwhile, Doug Arent underscored the essential nature of security standards in the energy domain, stating, “By managing supply chains globally, we can establish complete and secure electric systems. However, these systems are not perfect as they still rely on fossil fuels and their environmental impacts, which we all must strive to mitigate by finding better solutions to secure energy while simultaneously focusing on sustainability and environmental protection.”