Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword—it’s shaping nearly every aspect of our lives, from how we work to how we connect and innovate. At Franklin Energy, we see AI not just as a technology, but as a tool for transformation. That’s why we hosted our AI hackathon showcase, an internal brainstorming event where some of the brightest minds across our organization came together to explore how AI can make us more efficient, more insightful, and ultimately, more impactful. The ideas and prototypes sparked during this showcase will do more than improve our day-to-day work—they’ll help inform the conversations and solutions we’re bringing forward in our AI Energy Forum.
During our recent AI Hackathon showcase, the technology was exciting—automation prototypes, smart assistants, and tools to speed up daily tasks. But what resonated most wasn’t the code. It was the people. Every team brought stories of growth, grit, and a willingness to try something new.
Some were exploring AI for the first time. Others had quietly been building on side projects. Teams tackled messy data, learned to trust tools like Copilot, and collaborated across departments in new ways. These weren’t just tech experiments, they were personal journeys. And when you zoom out, they tell a bigger story: meaningful AI adoption doesn’t start with software. It starts with people.
The hackathon capped a seven-week AI upskilling program. What began as technical training evolved into something more: curiosity-driven exploration, cross-functional problem-solving, and fresh ideas that are already reshaping how we work.
Some of those ideas are moving forward fast—like automating proposal staffing, helping call center agents access real-time insights, and improving our use of SnuggPro to cut field audit time by up to 40%. These aren’t hypothetical solutions; they’re practical tools, built by teams who saw a challenge and got to work.
We’ve seen this kind of transformation before. Every major shift—personal computing, the internet, mobile—started with individual curiosity and scaled into organizational change. AI is next. And this time, the pace is even faster.
The companies that led those past waves didn’t just adopt tech—they designed their adoption to elevate people and purpose. That’s the mindset guiding our own journey, framed by what we call the 5 A’s of AI Maturity.
AI adoption is personal and organizational—always. At the personal level, it’s about curiosity, confidence, and small wins. At the organizational level, it’s about vision, strategy, and systems that scale.
These paths don’t compete; they reinforce each other. When people feel confident using AI, they contribute more. When the organization provides the tools and frameworks to support them, growth accelerates. That’s how we turn individual progress into collective momentum.
AI isn’t a distant future. It’s here, and it’s already shaping how we serve our clients, support our teams, and strengthen our impact. But adoption alone isn’t the goal. Designing our journey with intention—centered on people, grounded in trust, and driven by purpose—is what will define our success.
Let’s keep building, together.