Artificial intelligence (AI) has become more than a buzzword. It’s now an inevitable part of any business.
In early February, a panel of Hoosier Energy employees helped demonstrate some ways that was the case during a Lunch & Learn at Headquarters and a Breakfast & Learn at PDOC.
Presentations came from Vice President of Technology, Cybersecurity & Compliance Richie Field, Director of Finance and Controller Kyle Parker, Member Relations Specialist Justin Thompson and Sr. Transmission Economic and Policy Analyst Nate Knopf.
Field focused on the governance of AI within Hoosier Energy, providing some history and emphasizing why AI matters – the increasing complexity across areas such as operations, engineering, member services, finance and corporate services. He also previewed a future AI governance committee.
Focusing on the use of AI in Member Solutions, Thompson focused on member use cases. He showed how data reporting and analysis by AI revealed the top member programs and rebates. There was also an example of creating an AI agent to validate real estate data.
Other uses included meeting support, transcription, contract and product comparisons, and general education. “The more you use AI, the more comfortable you get using it,” Thompson said.
Parker demonstrated how he has used AI in several different ways. It can serve as a second brain by asking questions. It can be a personal assistant providing background, looking up contracts, prepping for meetings and providing daily tips or lessons. AI can be a researcher to summarize a subject or look up examples of similar situations. It can also serve as a tutor on how to do something or even just do something better.
Knopf gave a speech on being bullish on the use of AI that he later revealed was written with the assistance of AI in a fraction of the amount of time it would’ve taken him otherwise. He still provided the direction and guidelines just as if he was doing it himself. “AI shouldn’t replace, it should enhance,” he said.