How AI keeps critical infrastructure safe in harsh environments

The article "How AI keeps critical infrastructure safe in harsh environments" discusses the growing role of AI-driven autonomous security systems in protecting critical infrastructure such as telecommunications, pipelines, and energy grids, particularly in extreme and hazardous conditions. It highlights the dual challenge faced by security teams: ensuring physical hardware resilience against environmental hazards and enabling intelligent software capable of analyzing data, coordinating system responses, and alerting human operators only when necessary. Hardware solutions include engineering innovations like heat-resistant coatings and minimizing moving parts, while software advancements rely heavily on AI, deep learning, and IoT technologies to automate threat detection and response. The adoption of AI in these sectors is accelerating, with a significant portion of professionals in oil, gas, energy, and utilities industries actively planning or exploring AI-driven operations to enhance safety and efficiency. Surveys cited in the article reveal that nearly half of oil and gas professionals and a majority of energy and utility companies see AI as a critical tool for improving operational safety and threat detection. AI-powered systems are increasingly capable