Austin Alexander, VP of AI at Xylem, explains how GenAI can be a strategic asset for water utilities

Austin Alexander, VP of Artificial Intelligence at Xylem, explains how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is emerging not only as a digitalisation tool, but as a catalyst capable of transforming asset management, decision-making, and customer relationships, as highlighted in the report Water Technology Trends 2026: A Strategic Guide to the Future of Smart Water, recently released by Xylem Vue. ✅ Key highlights include: 00:00 Intro 00:07 What is it that makes GenAI different from previous analytics 01:54 How is GenAI well suited to help utilities 03:29 How GenAI will change the way utilities make operational and strategic decisions 05:10 Acceleration of GenAI and difference in markets 07:05 Where does GenAI bring the most immediate returns 09:08 How will GenAI reshape the relationship between utilities and its customers over the next decade 11:41 How far are we away from utilities utilizing GenAI to optimise resources, anticipate scarcity and manage infrastructure 13:00 Challenges of collating data around GenAI 14:54 What does responsible GenAi deployment look like 16:59 How GenAi can support talent development going forward 19:36 Is deployment of AI any different to any other new technology 🔔 Subscribe to Water Magazine to stay informed about the UK and Ireland's municipal and industrial water, wastewater and stormwater sector. ✅ LinkedIn -   / watermagazine   ✅ X - https://x.com/watermagtweets ✅ Instagram -   / watermagazineuk   ✅ Facebook -   / watermagazineuk   ✅ TikTok -   / water.magazine   ✅ Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/watermagazin... ✅ Threads - https://www.threads.com/@watermagazineuk Water Magazine is a freely distributed premium monthly print and digital publication and website reporting on the UK and Ireland’s municipal and industrial water, wastewater and stormwater sector. #WaterIndustry #EnvironmentalPerformance #Ofwat #EnvironmentAgency #WaterQuality #WaterMagazine #NaturalResourcesWales #SEPA #DWI #EPA #Water #WastewaterIndustry #WaterIndustryNews #WastewaterIndustryNews #WaterNews #WaterVlogs #WaterSector #WastewaterSector #SplashCast #WaterRegulation #PR24 #AMP8 #EnvironmentalMonitoring #defra #WaterPollution #RiverPollution #RiverWaterQuality #Sewage #SewagePollution #CSOS #SewageDischarge #WaterQualityMonitoring #SewageTreatment #SludgeTreatment #WaterTreatment #WastewaterTreatment #WaterTreatmentIndustry #WastewaterTreatmentIndustry #WaterTreatmentEquipment #WastewaterTreatmentEquipment #WaterConservation #WaterSupply #WaterInnovation #DrinkingWater #PotableWater