Connecticut Reviews Utility AI Use, Bradley & UTPB Get $3M Grants

Key Takeaways

• <ul><li>Connecticut AG William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman petitioned PURA to review AI use by state utilities, citing cybersecurity and data privacy risks</li><li>Avangrid and Eversource have acknowledged using AI, but the full extent remains unclear</li><li>The review would cover storm response, customer systems, asset management, demand forecasting, and grid operations</li><li>Bradley University received a $3 million federal grant to use AI for student support over five years</li><li>University of Texas Permian Basin received a $3 million NSF grant for an adaptive AI learning project over three years</li><li>World Bank President Ajay Banga highlighted strong AI demand in developing economies and the need for workforce skills</li><li>Google allows AI-built apps on the Play Store without a $25 developer fee, though apps remain private</li><li>Pendo launched a free game called Floor 404 to teach players how to train AI agents</li><li>Mortgage Lab launched free AI training for UK mortgage advisers, as AI use among professionals rose from 43% to 74% in one year</li><li>Horseshoes Western Wear in Texas caught a fraudulent refund attempt using an AI-generated receipt</li></ul>

Connecticut officials call for probe into utility AI use

Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman petitioned PURA to review how Connecticut utilities use AI. They cited cybersecurity risks, data privacy concerns, algorithmic errors, and the spread of false information. The review would cover storm response, customer systems, asset management, and grid operations. They want utilities to report all AI systems, their objectives, and human oversight levels. Avangrid and Eversource have acknowledged using AI, but the full scope remains unclear.

Connecticut AG asks regulators to probe AI in utilities

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong asked PURA to review how state electric, gas, and water utilities use AI. He highlighted threats from agentic AI to cybersecurity and privacy. Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman urged PURA to establish best practices for AI and data security. They want the review to examine how utilities protect infrastructure from cyberattacks and data breaches. The review aims to ensure utilities provide safe service in the public interest.

AG and OCC petition PURA to review utility AI use

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman filed a joint petition with PURA. They called it critical for PURA to work with utilities to review and establish best practices for AI and data security. They recommended evaluating AI use in storm response, customer systems, asset management, demand forecasting, and grid operations. They also want PURA to assess protections against cyberattacks and data breaches from AI and other sources. The petition notes that AI can be used both to attack and defend utility systems.

Connecticut attorney general urges review of AI in utilities

Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman petitioned PURA to evaluate AI use by Connecticut public utilities. They cited cybersecurity and data privacy risks, algorithmic errors, and false information from AI platforms. They want PURA to require utilities to report all AI systems, their goals, human oversight levels, and governing policies. Tong said Avangrid and Eversource have acknowledged AI use, but the full extent is unclear. Coleman said AI can improve efficiency and lower costs but must not compromise safety or consumer protections.

Bradley University gets $3M grant to use AI for students

Bradley University received a $3 million federal grant to expand academic support using AI. The multiyear initiative will redesign courses and use AI-assisted analytics to identify students who need extra help. AI-integrated systems will track student progress and highlight areas needing additional assistance. The grant covers five years, and students should see the new systems by the next school year. The goal is to improve advising, accessibility, and responsible AI use in teaching.

UTPB receives $3 million grant for AI learning project

The University of Texas Permian Basin received a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation for an artificial intelligence learning project. The project will develop an AI system that can learn and adapt to new situations through tasks like image recognition and natural language processing. It is expected to take three years and will fund new faculty, staff, equipment and software. UTPB is one of 11 institutions to receive the grant, which will also give students hands-on experience with AI technology.

World Bank chief says AI infrastructure growth continues

World Bank President Ajay Banga discussed the strong demand for AI, especially in developing economies, during the IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok. He highlighted the vast opportunities for AI applications that boost productivity. He also stressed the importance of building the right skills for the jobs that AI technology is creating.

Pendo launches game to teach AI agent training

Pendo released a free first-person puzzle game called Floor 404 that teaches players how to train AI agents. Players name and customize an animated agent called Grepple and guide it through a creepy office space, solving daily puzzles to help it succeed. Skipping days causes the agent to degrade into a zombie. The game was created during a company hackathon to make the problem of ineffective AI agents fun and accessible. It was built for both beginners and experienced professionals who build or deploy AI agents.

Top AI keynote speakers to watch in 2027

Scott Steinberg is highlighted as a leading AI keynote speaker and artificial intelligence futurist for 2027. He covers topics including machine learning innovation, leadership, automation, privacy, ethics and information technology. His work has reached over 3000 brands.

Mortgage Lab launches free AI training for mortgage advisers

Mortgage Lab launched a free AI learning platform for UK mortgage professionals, supported by five founding partners including Curvestone AI and JammJar. The platform helps advisers use AI within regulated mortgage advice processes while maintaining compliance and good client outcomes. This follows research showing AI use among advice professionals rose from 43% to 74% in one year. The platform offers a weekly Friday Briefing, daily AI news feed, podcast and guides. It will also host a roundtable at Mortgage Innovation and Technology Live titled AI in practice.

Google Play Store allows AI-built apps without a developer account

Google is letting people publish personal apps built with Google AI Studio to the Play Store without paying a $25 developer fee. The apps are private and only visible on the creator's own devices. They still go through Google's security checks and Play Store policies. Google plans to let creators share apps with a small group of people and upgrade to a professional developer account for wider reach.

Store hit by fake AI-generated receipt used for fraudulent refund

Employees at Horseshoes Western Wear in Alice, Texas discovered that someone used an AI-generated receipt to get a warranty refund for a Consuela designer purse. The fake receipt had errors like a wrong address that employees caught. The Better Business Bureau warns that AI makes fake documents harder to spot and says scammers rely on urgency to avoid detection.

Anchor Browser and AgentCore payments enable agent transactions

Anchor Browser provides a cloud browser with persistent identity and session context for agents to complete tasks. When a payment is needed, AgentCore payments handles the transaction through a Payment Manager that coordinates operations for an AWS account. The system connects to external wallets via Coinbase CDP or Stripe Privy and keeps wallet secrets in a managed service layer rather than inside the agent runtime.

AI sign displayed at World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai

A file photo shows an Artificial Intelligence sign at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, China. The photo was taken on July 6, 2023. The image captures the growing presence of AI technology at major industry events.

Sources

• Officials Seek Probe Into AI Use By Public Utilities
• Connecticut AG asks utility regulators to probe use of AI over data security worries | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
• AG and OCC petitions PURA for review of AI use by public utilities
• Connecticut attorney general urges review of AI use by state utility companies
• Bradley University receives $3M from feds, using AI to help students
• UTPB awarded $3 million for AI learning project
• World Bank President: AI infrastructure boom shows no signs of slowing
• Pendo’s New Game Teaches AI Agent Training… in Liminal Spaces
• Best AI Keynote Speakers 2027
• Mortgage Lab launches AI training platform for mortgage advisers
• Google is opening Play Store to AI-built personal apps without a developer account
• Store says AI-generated receipt was used to secure fraudulent purse refund
• Building agents that transact with Anchor Browser and AgentCore payments
• FILE PHOTO: An AI (Artificial Intelligence) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai