Iowa State Professor Urges Aggressive AI Use to Defend Power Grids

Key Takeaways

• Iowa State professor Manimaran Govindarasu urged matching attackers' AI use in grid defense
• AI-driven zero-day exploits pose a major threat to power grid operations
• Govindarasu co-wrote an IEEE editorial with Brian Johnson of the University of Idaho
• Pope Leo XIV stated AI can never be a person and should never receive human rights
• The EPA inspector general launched an audit of the agency's AI practices
• 40% of security teams now use AI daily and 56% are testing it
• Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer discussed AI assistants and emotional labor in an NPR interview
• Utah approved a student task force on AI use in classrooms
• Ohio State hosted an AI in Business Conference with over 200 attendees
• Blue Tees Golf co-founder Drew Koehler says AI cannot replace human caddies

Iowa State professor urges AI-based grid defense at Penn State lecture

Manimaran Govindarasu, an Iowa State University professor, spoke at Penn State on Oct. 30, 2026 about AI power grid security. At least 20 students and faculty attended the talk in room 108 of the Chambers Building. He argued that defenders must use AI as aggressively as attackers do. He warned that AI-driven zero-day exploits could severely threaten grid operations. He proposed AI-enabled security operations centers and zero trust principles for energy infrastructure.

Iowa State expert outlines three ways to secure AI power grids

An Iowa State University professor told a Penn State audience that defenders need to match attackers' use of AI tools. The lecture followed an Iowa State release on Oct. 5, 2026 about an IEEE Power & Energy Magazine issue. Govindarasu co-wrote the editorial with Brian Johnson of the University of Idaho. He called for AI inside the entire cybersecurity lifecycle, from design through recovery. He also highlighted zero-day exploits as a major threat to grid security.

SOC readiness checklist before deploying AI agents

Forty percent of security teams now use AI daily and 56% are testing it, according to a Prophet Security survey. AI SOC agents work best when teams have clear data access, investigation standards and human approval rules. They typically start by handling alerts, which frees analyst hours for higher-level work. Many SOCs still struggle with slow MDR responses, noisy detections and thin after-hours coverage. The article lists readiness checks teams should review before deploying AI agents.

Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer discusses AI assistants and emotional labor

Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer spoke with NPR about how AI assistants can fit into busy women's lives. The interview focused on how AI tools might reduce the burden of emotional labor. NPR's Juana Summers conducted the conversation. The article is based on a Nov. 2, 2026 NPR interview.

Utah students gain formal role in shaping classroom AI policy

The Utah State Board of Education approved a student task force on AI use in schools after about a year of work. Skyline High School senior Rahul Nair proposed the idea and connected with AI specialist Matt Winters. Hillcrest High School senior Kennedy Mickelson joined with a more cautious view of AI. The board approved a new Instructional Technology and Artificial Intelligence Model Policy on Oct. 8. Students want a voice in how AI boundaries are set for classrooms.

Pope Leo XIV says AI can never be a person

Pope Leo XIV met with Vatican and AI experts on October 30, 2026. He stated that machines are tools, not persons, and should never receive human rights. He said AI's future depends on the choices humans make today. He stressed that safe AI serving people is more valuable than powerful AI we cannot control.

EPA watchdog launches audit of agency's AI practices

The EPA's inspector general is auditing the agency's use of artificial intelligence tools. This follows reports that the EPA did not publicly list its AI tools as required by federal law. Some AI tools for vetting chemicals were missing from the agency's inventory. The audit will check if the EPA followed rules on transparency and risk mitigation for high-impact AI systems.

AI needs a moral bridle to guide its power

This opinion piece compares AI to the domesticated horse as a powerful partnership for humanity. The author argues that AI needs a moral bridle of human dignity, fairness, and honesty. It also needs reins of meaningful oversight and accountability. The article says governments and institutions must set enforceable standards so AI benefits everyone and does not deepen inequality.

AI shares its thoughts on New Jersey

A writer asked Artificial Intelligence about New Jersey to see if it held common stereotypes. AI said New Jersey does not universally smell bad but some industrial areas have earned that reputation. It said New Jersey people are tough but nice on the inside. When asked if it would move there, AI said it would probably move out because of traffic, prices, and crowds.

Will AI make golf caddies a thing of the past?

Blue Tees Golf is developing Scout AI, a tool that gives golfers personalized course recommendations. It analyzes a player's shot patterns and can suggest club choices based on green heat maps. Co-founder Drew Koehler says AI helps golfers play more confidently. However, he believes AI cannot replace human caddies who understand a player's emotions and know the course in ways technology cannot match.

Ohio State hosts AI conference for students and business leaders

The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business held the AI in Business Conference at The Blackwell Inn and Pfahl Conference Center. The event brought together more than 200 faculty, students and industry leaders to discuss responsible AI use across different fields. Ohio State is working to ensure every student, starting with the class of 2029, graduates AI fluent. Attendees included Ohio State alumni now using AI tools at Chase Bank, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Experience Management Institute. Vanitha Zacharias from the Ohio Department of Administrative Services encouraged students to keep learning about AI throughout their careers.

Sources

• AI Grid Security: 20+ Iowa State Attendees Weigh In [2026]
• Iowa State Expert: 3 Ways to Secure AI Power Grids [2026]
• Is Your SOC Ready for AI Agents? A Maturity Check Before You Deploy
• How former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer sees AI assistants fitting into busy women's lives
• Utah students wanted a say in classroom AI rules. Now they're getting it
• Pope Leo XIV: AI can never be a person; its future depends on our choices
• EPA watchdog launches audit of agency’s AI practices
• Humanity's next great partnership: AI needs a moral bridle
• I asked Artificial Intelligence what it thought of New Jersey
• Will artificial intelligence make caddies a thing of the past?
• Ohio State hosts researchers, business leaders to share AI strategies