CISE Seminar: Le Xie, Professor, Harvard University
Date: February 7th, 2025
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: 665 Commonwealth Ave., CDS 1101
Le Xie
Gordon McKay Professor of Electrical Engineering
Harvard University
Power for AI/Computing, and AI for Power: A Case Study in Texas
This talk examines the growing interplay between artificial intelligence (AI), computing, and the electric power grid, focusing on large language models (LLMs) and cryptocurrency mining. The rapid expansion of computing demands, including AI data centers and crypto mining, has significantly strained power systems. For instance, Texas has added over 3 GW of blockchain-related demand in the past two years, amplifying challenges in grid reliability, carbon emissions, and electricity prices.
The first part presents a first-of-its-kind analysis combining carbon footprint, grid reliability, and electricity costs to assess the locational impact of blockchain mining. This framework highlights how large, flexible computing loads reshape the design and operation of regional grids.
The second part explores LLM capabilities and limitations in addressing power sector challenges, including load forecasting, locational marginal price prediction, wildfire risk detection, hazard recognition, and document analysis. We also discuss risks of LLM misuse, such as triggering grid disruptions. Future research priorities include fine-tuning LLMs with domain-specific data, integrating power tools, and leveraging retrieval-augmented generation for safety-critical tasks.
This talk highlights the mutual dependencies between AI and power systems, offering insights for innovation and sustainability.
Dr. Le Xie is the Gordon McKay Professor of Electrical Engineering at Harvard John A. Paulson School Of Engineering And Applied Sciences. He was on the faculty of Texas A&M Electrical and Computer Engineering Department from 2010 to 2024. He received B.E. in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University in 2004, S.M. in Engineering Sciences from Harvard in 2005, and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon in 2009. His industry experience includes work at ISO-New England and Edison Mission Energy Marketing and Trading. His research interest includes modeling and control in data-rich large-scale systems, grid integration of clean energy resources, and electricity markets.
Dr. Xie is a Fellow of IEEE, IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer, and recipient of several prestigious awards, including the NSF CAREER Award, the 2021 IEEE Technical Committee on Cyber-Physical Systems Mid-Career Award, and the 2017 IEEE PES Outstanding Young Engineer Award. He was the recipient of Texas A&M Dean of Engineering Excellence Award, ECE Outstanding Professor Award, and TEES Select Young Fellow. He serves or have served on the Editorial Board of IEEE Transactions on Power Systems (Senior Editor), IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, and IET Transaction on Smart Grid. He is the founding chair of IEEE PES Subcommittee on Big Data & Analytics for Grid Operations. His team received the IEEE PES Technical Committee Prize Paper award, and multiple Best Paper awards at North American Power Symposium 2012, IEEE SmartGridComm 2013, HICSS 2019 and 2021, IEEE Sustainable Power & Energy Conference 2019, and IEEE PES General Meeting 2020/2023.
Faculty Host: Emiliano Dall’Anese
Student Host: Qian Wu