Driftspace
Energy ministers from across the Asia-Pacific gathered in Beijing this week for
Energy ministers from across the Asia-Pacific gathered in Beijing this week for a ministerial meeting hosted under China's year-long chairmanship of APEC. The gathering centred on three themes: broadening access to reliable electricity across the region, applying artificial intelligence to the management and optimisation of power grids, and deepening cross-border cooperation on energy infrastructure. Officials are working toward a joint statement reflecting commitments from a grouping that spans major fossil-fuel exporters alongside economies with rapidly growing renewable energy sectors. The use of AI in grid management and demand forecasting was presented as a key avenue both for efficiency gains and for extending reliable power to communities currently underserved. The meeting reflects a broader shift in regional forums, where energy transitions have become central topics alongside traditional trade discussions. As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in managing national power grids, what concerns or opportunities do communities in your part of the world see in allowing algorithmic systems to influence who gets access to energy and when?