Empowering the Energy Workforce for an AI-Driven Future

As artificial intelligence continues to make its way into the energy sector, it brings with it a wave of innovation and efficiency. AI is optimizing grid operations by predicting and preventing blackouts, enhancing energy efficiency by analyzing data to reduce waste, and seamlessly integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind. It is improving system safety and reliability through predictive maintenance and helping to protect the environment by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

As the industry embraces this digital transformation, AI is also reshaping the workforce. Understandably, a technological advancement of this magnitude can stir apprehension among workers who fear AI might replace their jobs or disrupt their routines. However, experts at Carnegie Mellon University emphasize that the role of AI in the energy workforce is to unlock the full potential of human workers. 

Collaborating across disciplines in the very place where AI was born(opens in new window), CMU’s experts are continuing to develop the tools and resources to help society seamlessly adapt, ensuring that everyone benefits in an AI-driven future.

“CMU's deep expertise on AI research across science, policy, engineering, computer science, humanities, arts and business allows for a systems-wide view of how to maximize the benefits and minimize the challenges of AI for society,” said Costa Samaras(opens in new window), director of the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation(opens in new window). “This includes understanding the needs and skills for a future workforce and enabling opportunities for everyone to participate.”

How is CMU AI revolutionizing the energy industry?

AI systems, especially those that rely on remote data centers for processing, consume significant energy due to their high computational demands. But AI is not only a significant consumer of energy; it is also a potential source of innovative solutions to the challenges that the energy sector faces.

Burcu Akinci(opens in new window), department head and Hamerschlag University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering(opens in new window) at CMU, explained that buildings are the biggest energy users, and within buildings, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems consume the most energy. These systems are complex and customized for each building, making it difficult to monitor them reliably. Faults in HVAC systems are significant since HVAC systems contribute approximately 40% of total energy use in buildings and buildings are responsible for 40% of total energy use in the U.S. For example, a malfunctioning component or an error in the control logic might cause a system to heat and cool the air simultaneously, wasting energy.

To address this, Akinci and her team developed an AI agent that continuously monitors the vast amounts of sensor data collected from buildings. By combining AI with digital twins (digital replicas of the physical assets), workers can diagnose faults and perform root cause analyses to determine where the fault is and how much money is being wasted.

“As a result, engineers and managers are empowered because they can see what the issues are, fix them and reduce waste,” she said. 

While AI tools are powerful, they can’t provide all the answers because they only consider the data without looking at the context. For example, two air handling units serving the same building can behave differently depending on the areas they supply, such as an operating room versus office space. Akinci said human expertise will always be needed.

“I do not think it’s doom and gloom, that people are going to lose jobs. In fact, we need more skilled engineers who are experts in their domains equipped with the right tools. You really need that domain expertise working closely with AI tools to make the most effective decisions,” she said. “AI systems will be like apprentices for engineers, freeing them up to use their knowledge and creativity in a more powerful way.”

How is CMU AI preparing the energy workforce to meet job demands?

The energy sector is transitioning both regionally and nationally, using existing carbon-based sources like natural gas while also exploring opportunities in geothermal, nuclear, solar, wind and other clean technologies. Companies like Microsoft and Google are investing in these new energy sources to power AI data centers, such as Microsoft's stake in Three Mile Island for nuclear energy(opens in new window) and Google's geothermal project in Nevada(opens in new window).

“In other words, both traditional and new sources of energy are being explored to power not only existing sections of the economy but also what AI is demanding,” said Ramayya Krishnan(opens in new window), dean of CMU’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy(opens in new window) and faculty director of the university’s Block Center for Technology and Society(opens in new window). “Because of that, there is a need for a workforce that has the appropriate skills to contribute to this build out in many ways.”

CMU is using AI to help solve workforce issues like this. The university’s interdisciplinary nature brought together the Scott Institute and The Block Center to create the Workforce Supply Chains Initiative(opens in new window), which is helping workers, employers and policymakers navigate the evolving job market. By analyzing data, the initiative identifies which jobs are becoming more popular and which ones are declining. This information is crucial for workers to understand what skills they might need to learn for future job opportunities.

In addition to identifying job trends, the initiative provides personalized advice to workers about new roles that match their skills and interests. It offers guidance on what new skills they might need, how to acquire them and the potential benefits of upskilling, ensuring workers are well-prepared for the changing demands of the job market.

For employers, the initiative offers valuable insights into how to best utilize their employees' skills. It provides guidance on creating new job roles, training workers for these roles and employee retention, helping companies stay competitive and ensuring their workforce is equipped to handle future challenges.

Krishnan said CMU’s ability to look at issues from a systems standpoint is what makes the university uniquely positioned to address the complex challenges and opportunities that lie at the intersection of energy and AI.

"That's our sweet spot," he said. "At CMU, we have strength in all the different layers. We have deep expertise in energy, deep expertise in AI and deep expertise in public policy, and we understand how these elements come together."

Krishnan will moderate a panel discussion on AI and the energy workforce at CMU Energy Week 2025(opens in new window), where guests are expected to discuss data center expansion and the need for skilled workers to design, build and maintain electrical, mechanical and cooling systems.

Back to basics: empowering communities and embracing continuous learning

In an effort to equip society with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate and contribute to an AI-driven world, Krishnan has recommended through the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC), on which he serves, the creation of a comprehensive AI curriculum for libraries, community colleges and high schools to enhance AI literacy across various educational levels and community settings.

Key aspects of the recommendation include launching a national AI literacy campaign through a public/private partnership; integrating AI literacy into educational programs for K-12, community colleges and non-traditional learners; and ensuring libraries and community centers have access to AI educational materials to serve as local learning hubs.

“People get worried or afraid of what they don’t fully understand,” he said. “If we can create a curriculum on AI and distribute it, that might be a great way for people to just get that base literacy. My sense is that people are going to experience AI through systems they already know, like Word or Excel or PowerPoint.”

Akinci recommends that people prepare to embrace the idea of continuous learning.

“The world is changing so fast. Even students entering college today can’t expect to learn all they will need to know for their career in four years,” she said. “It’s really important for all of us entering this brave new world to have an open heart, an open mind and an attitude of continuous learning and growth — to embrace change rather than fear or resist it.”

Carnegie Mellon University pioneered artificial intelligence education, offering the first bachelor's degree in AI. Ranked #1 in artificial intelligence by U.S. News & World Report, CMU provides a comprehensive range of AI programs. These include undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees in AI and machine learning, as well as specialized programs such as AI engineering, AI-centric business degrees and graduate certificates. CMU's interdisciplinary approach ensures that students from diverse backgrounds can engage with AI in various fields, from computer science to business and beyond.