site.btaElectrohold Bulgaria CEO: All Areas of Life Will Be Electrified

All areas of life will be electrified, Electrohold Bulgaria CEO Karel Kral said in an interview with BTA on Saturday. He expressed belief that the “dispatcher of the future” will manage millions of user points with the help of artificial intelligence, the future will be electric and subject to constant change.

Kral was the keynote speaker at this year's second forum Before Tomorrow, hosted by the BGlobal magazine on May 31. Eighteen leading AI experts took part in the forum. BTA is the media partner for the initiative.

The full transcript of the interview follows:

Mr. Kral, what is your prediction for the future of global electricity?

The future is generally moving in the direction of electrification. All areas of life that we know, such as transport, houses and office buildings, will be electrified. Everything will become electric.

What is the current trend of transformation in the energy sector?

Humanity has witnessed several major transformations. The first was in the 18th century, when humanity made the transition from timber to coal, the second - in the 20th century, when the use of oil and gas emerged. In the 21st century, we are facing the transformation called 4D. It is called like that because it involves the 4 Ds, namely digitalization, decarbonization, decentralization and democratization.

What role do digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence play in this energy transformation?

Digitalization and artificial intelligence are a prerequisite for this transformation to happen, because the transmission and distribution of electricity in the future will have more elements and they will be managed through remote access - this cannot happen without the intervention of artificial intelligence. Energy currently flows in one direction, from the big power plant to the consumer, whereas in the future it will not be as simple. With multiple small generators, the dispatcher of the future will manage millions of consumer and production points using artificial intelligence.

How will the pattern of future energy production change?

The answer to this question lies in the word decentralization: [it will change] when electricity starts to be produced on a mass scale in a decentralized way. This means that customers who produce electricity for themselves will probably also serve other points - their neighbours, other buildings and sites, and their network will have different users. Future generation will rely on a variety of sources - photovoltaics, wind, hydro and small modular nuclear reactors. Then there will be more players producing power - municipalities, businesses and residential customers.

Do you believe artificial intelligence will change humanity for the better?

I personally believe that the answer is “yes” - humanity will change for the better thanks to artificial intelligence, and I believe that humans will keep the algorithms in check. It all depends on how we take advantage of the opportunities that artificial intelligence gives us, and what tasks we assign to it. It can help us a lot and do a very useful job for humans.

Will technology eliminate some businesses in the future or just serve them?

I rather believe that professions that can be automated will be facilitated and much of the repetitive activities will be replaced by artificial intelligence. I am talking about professions such as accountants and journalists, but there will also be new professions that do not exist yet. Creative and expert professions will not disappear. A chief accountant in the future will control the artificial intelligence, which in turn will carry out data collection and accounting for one particular document. The journalist will analyze the information gathered by the artificial intelligence. In medicine, too, artificial intelligence will do research, issue notes like the GP, but the doctor will control the treatment of the disease.

Is there a risk that artificial intelligence will enslave humans, leading to the obliteration of human qualities over time? Should humans fear artificial intelligence?

I do not believe in this threat, I do not accept it, because artificial intelligence performs the algorithms and tasks that humans give it. A human is a human and can always master the algorithms. I do not believe humanity will become a slave to artificial intelligence, but I do believe it will help make humans stronger, healthier and more powerful in terms of genetics and human development.

Do you think that a profession of "artificial intelligence professor" or "artificial intelligence scientist" will be born soon?

I am convinced that such professions already exist, these are the people who create artificial intelligence. And because every human activity has to be regulated, whether by ethical standards or by a legal code, there will be institutions such as the police, the judiciary or a code of ethics that will regulate the actions of artificial intelligence. Humans often seize the opportunity to make additional income through unauthorized means, so the application of artificial intelligence must be controlled.

On a personal note, how far would you allow artificial intelligence in your home, and can you keep up with the pace at which it is evolving?

Artificial Intelligence exists in various applications and technologies, it is beside us, it is in our homes. I try to keep up with every new technology that comes into my life by being interested in what it is for, how I might use it and what data it collects.

Could you please draw a forecast for the future today, before tomorrow, in what direction will it change?

The future will be electric and it will represent a continuous change. I tell my children that they need to "learn to learn" throughout their lives so they can be part of the future of tomorrow. However, there are always unpredictable events and chance plays a part in every moment in history, including the future.

In an interview, [CEO of SpaceX and Tesla] Elon Musk said: "The most important question today is not what will change in 10 years, but what will stay the same." What do you think will remain the same in 10 years' time compared to the reality of today?

The world will change constantly and change will become faster and faster, but our brains are not equipped to process all this information and this is where artificial intelligence will come in. In my opinion, the need for communication, the need to communicate, will not change. People will remain people with all their needs and desires.