Tech in the valley: Unveiling the power of AI integration in Wenatchee’s business landscape | Business

Sue Kane, NCW Tech Alliance CEO, is at the forefront of raising awareness and educating on the importance of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) ethics.

“We are witnessing the emergence of a generation-making disruptive technology that will bring a dizzying number of applications and services to improve efficiency, enhance experiences, and create value,” Kane said.

The NCW Tech Alliance’s mission is to bring people and technology resources together to support entrepreneurs, STEM education, and technology adoption in North Central Washington. It is behind February’s UpSkill-A-Thon, a free, self-paced program built upon Microsoft’s global skills initiative to help professionals and job seekers successfully navigate the paths to in-demand roles in a more digital economy. The alliance has also used AI to build a tech-based demographic map of North Central Washington to highlight communities in need of access to technology and corresponding education.

“AI technologies bring about new ways of bringing together large data sets to see new patterns emerge, make stronger predictions, connect processes and outcomes and empower evidence-based decisions,” Kane said. “In addition to these incredible opportunities, there is a call for stronger cybersecurity practices to protect our data, our privacy, and our systems from malicious attacks.”

In this feature, we’ll explore the subtle yet impactful ways local enterprises are incorporating artificial intelligence to enhance daily operations and foster efficiency, and the navigation of the subsequent threats AI poses.

Chelan County PUD harnesses AI

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, Chelan County PUD, guided by chief technology officer Ian Fitzgerald, has become a trailblazer in seamlessly integrating AI into its operational framework. Fitzgerald emphasizes the extensive history of AI implementation, spanning decades and challenging the common perception of AI solely as generative models, such as ChatGPT.

“The PUD has been using AI for a long time, decades even. That AI is what people think about it today, they think of ChatGPT, and that’s generative AI, which is only one aspect of AI,” Fitzgerald said.

This prolonged engagement with AI traces back to the early 1990s, when the PUD initially delved into controlling the electrical grid and generation. The focus was on a “weak” or “narrow” AI, aiding human decision-making through intricate parameters and models, a testament to the utility’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements.

The core of the PUD’s AI lies in a machine-based system capable of making predictions, recommendations, and decisions based on human-defined objectives. While not achieving human-like capabilities, this technology has played a pivotal role in managing dams, operating the electrical grid, and optimizing electricity-related processes for more than two decades.

“The value of AI is that it can process data at a much higher rate than what a human can, and so when it comes to those routine data processing and data crunching variables, that’s where AI can provide huge benefits,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald provided insights into the diverse applications of AI, highlighting the outage management website driven by an AI engine. This website offers real-time outage information, including affected areas, causes, and estimated restoration times, enhancing customer experience and providing transparency. Explore the outage map here: outages.chelanpud.org.

The PUD’s recent rollout of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) using AI technology signifies a strategic move toward predictive analysis of the electrical system. This proactive approach, enabled by AI, enhances real-time response capabilities during outages, reducing response times by 15% or more.

AI is not confined to electrical grid management; Fitzgerald highlights its application in a water leak notification system. By employing machine learning AI in water meters, the PUD can detect leaks on the customer’s side. Fitzgerald notes its significance, especially for those with second homes in the area, preventing potential damage and offering valuable insights that only AI can provide.

“It’s even more important for those who have second homes in the area and may not be here in the winter, because a leak can cause mass damage to a house. So, having that AI really helps the customer by saving them money, saving them damage, saving them headaches, and helping them make a determination that in this case only AI can have insight to,” Fitzgerald said.

Looking ahead, Fitzgerald outlines the PUD’s strategic vision for future AI implementations. One significant initiative involves using vision cameras with AI to detect smoke, addressing the critical issue of wildfire prevention. Another focus area is vegetation growth monitoring, using machine learning and computer vision AI technology to assess potential risks to power lines.

In a unique application, AI contributes to fish counting for the PUD’s fish and wildlife program, showcasing the versatility of AI in diverse fields beyond traditional utility operations.

In a dynamic intersection of technology and agriculture, CMI Orchards is leveraging AI to propel its daily operations to new heights. Rochelle Bohm, vice president of marketing at CMI Orchards, shared insights into the innovative ways the company is integrating AI tools, particularly Adobe Firefly and ChatGPT, to enhance efficiency and creativity within the organization.

“We’re really embracing AI to take our daily operations to the next level,” Bohm said.

Bohm elaborated on the company’s use of Adobe Firefly, an innovative tool that has become instrumental in transforming its visual content. The generative fill tool, a standout feature, allows it to alter photos with incredible ease. Users can selectively modify elements within an image, adding vibrant blossoms, lush greenery, or a clear blue sky by erasing unwanted elements while preserving the photo’s integrity.

“It’s as simple as selecting a part of an image and typing in how we want to change it,” Bohm said. The tool’s finesse extends to fine-tuning photos, addressing small details without necessitating a re-shoot or an entire new photo shoot setup.

CMI Orchards has also embraced ChatGPT, positioning it as a super-smart assistant for writing tasks. Bohm highlighted its versatility, from trimming down text for specific word counts in ads and messaging to editing and translation tasks. The team relies on ChatGPT to streamline writing processes, recognizing it as a valuable augmentation to its creative endeavors.

“ChatGPT is our go-to. We’re committed to using it in a responsible way, always starting with our own thoughts and ideas,” Bohm said.

Acknowledging its ability to draw from a vast pool of information across the web, including others’ work, Bohm stresses the importance of maintaining ethical and responsible usage.

For CMI Orchards, ethical considerations play a pivotal role in its technology adoption. Bohm underlined its commitment to responsible usage, emphasizing that ChatGPT builds upon a wealth of information gathered from the web. Similarly, its choice of Adobe Firefly is rooted in ensuring that the sourced material is either properly compensated or falls under open license/public domain content.

“It’s really important to us that we’re leveraging the latest tech to make our work easier and better, while ensuring we do so ethically and responsibly,” Bohm said.

In aligning technology with business objectives, CMI Orchards demonstrates a commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation while upholding ethical standards.

Navigating the evolving landscape of cybersecurity

In an interview with Charlie Van Liew, sales and business development manager at Firefly, a Wenatchee tech company specializing in cybersecurity solutions, the complexities of today’s cybersecurity challenges came to the forefront. Van Liew provided valuable insights into the dynamic intersection of business, technology, and AI.

“What works today is not what worked five, 10, 15, 20 years ago. Artificial intelligence plays a big role in that. AI does a lot of things to help bad guys get to the information they want to get to,” Van Liew said, emphasizing the need for businesses to adapt to changing threats.

While AI offers remarkable business applications, Van Liew cautioned that cybercriminals also leverage these tools.

“Bad actors have access to these tools as well. They’re using a lot of the tools that some of us are getting really excited about,” he said.

AI’s deceptive power in hacking was highlighted, with Van Liew explaining how it enables cybercriminals to refine their methods, from impeccable language generation to assuming professional voices.

“ChatGPT and other forms of AI can make their English immaculate, and it can assume the voice of another professional,” Van Liew said.

Firefly itself incorporates AI, including ChatGPT, in internal processes.

“We use ChatGPT when we are creating word documents in our company, it helps us write some of our processes in our early brainstorming phases,” Van Liew shared.

Identifying a gap in cybersecurity solutions, Van Liew stressed the importance of comprehensive approaches.

“We looked at the market and saw a big gap, worldwide, and specifically here in north-central Washington, for a true cybersecurity solution that actually meets the current landscape’s needs of cybersecurity,” he explained.

Highlighting the vulnerability of small businesses, Van Liew drew parallels between hackers and salespeople.

“Many small-business owners have little to no protection on their network or training with their staff,” he said.

As the cyber landscape evolves, Van Liew noted that businesses have not matched the increasing practices of bad actors.

“We have not increased our cyber hygiene to the level that bad actors have increased their practices,” he said.

Van Liew likened hackers to organized crime syndicates, underscoring the scale of cybercrime.

“In 2023, it was an $8 trillion industry worldwide — it’s big business,” he revealed.

In a call to action for business owners, Van Liew posed a crucial question: “How do we make this not worth their time?” He emphasized the importance of proactive measures to safeguard against cyber threats, especially for small and mid-size businesses.