Energy Sector Leaders Discuss the Role of AI and Cybersecurity in Driving Market Growth

Experts emphasize that implementing AI in the electricity sector requires addressing regional inequalities.

Experts emphasize that implementing AI in the electricity sector requires addressing regional inequalities.

On August 25th, São Paulo will host the 4th Brazilian Women in Energy Congress, the largest all-female energy forum in Latin America. The event will bring together executives, government officials, and specialists to debate strategic topics such as artificial intelligence in the electricity sector, electric mobility, and battery storage.

Just months ahead of COP30, which will take place in Belém (PA) in November 2025, the Brazilian electricity sector faces a pressing challenge: meeting growing energy demand while maintaining sustainability and climate justice. In this context, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a key ally in making the system more efficient, resilient, and future-ready.

“I see AI as a major business enabler and an accelerator of national economic growth and GDP generation,” says Tania Cosentino, Vice President of Cybersecurity at Microsoft Latin America and a keynote speaker at the Congress. She adds that in this AI-driven expansion, cybersecurity must also be a priority: “If I’m going to use more AI, I will certainly need more security.”

Although Brazil’s energy matrix is 88% renewable, according to the 2025 National Energy Balance, the country still faces regulatory and structural barriers to achieving a fair and complete energy transition.

AI-powered solutions—like smart sensors, predictive algorithms, and real-time monitoring systems—are already being used by utilities to prevent failures, detect losses, optimize assets, and improve grid management. “AI still has great potential to evolve in the energy market, especially in enhancing customer experience, which remains underexplored in the sector,” notes Paula Misan Klanberg, Co-CEO and Co-founder of Outly and Electy, who will speak on the panel “AI for a Cleaner and More Efficient Power Sector.”

Beyond efficiency, AI is also gaining ground in risk management by helping forecast and mitigate operational and financial risks. “Data integration, process automation, and scenario forecasting open the door to a new era in energy generation and distribution—an era where risks can be predicted and controlled more precisely,” says Gisele Queiroz, Corporate Risk Director at Interrisk, another confirmed speaker.

With global eyes on COP30, Brazil has a unique opportunity to lead in developing tech-driven solutions for a just energy transition. The congress will explore how AI can foster innovation, reduce inequality, and promote sustainability in the sector.

Technological Inequality

AI’s benefits, however, are not evenly distributed. Technological inequality remains a barrier to adoption across Brazil. According to IBGE, as of 2023, only 0.2% of Brazilian households lacked access to electricity—a figure that has remained stable since 2016, except for 2017 when it reached 0.3%. Yet, the North region still faces the greatest challenges, with 4.4% of rural households lacking electricity access.

“The technology must be an ally. But what truly shapes the future are people—engaged, diverse, collaborative, and eager to learn,” says Eliza Tannus, CEO of P15 Educação.

Digitalization is also reshaping workforce demands. The automation of operational processes requires upskilling and the development of new digital and analytical capabilities. “In the age of AI, the professional of the future is not the one who knows everything, but the one who knows how to reinvent themselves. The ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn will be essential,” says Karina Ribeiro, Head of the Corporate University at Instituto Eldorado.

Experts emphasize that implementing AI in the electricity sector requires addressing regional inequalities.