Towards Ethical AI in Power Electronics: How Engineering Practice and Roles Must Adapt

AI adoption in power electronics is accelerating rapidly, with AI-related publications in IEEE Power Electronics Society journals increasing more than fourfold between 2020 and 2025, yet ethical considerations have been largely overlooked during this expansion.

Four foundational pillars should guide responsible AI in this field: Security & Safety, Explainability & Transparency, Energy Sustainability, and Evolving Roles of Engineers—each requiring practical, actionable approaches embedded at the design and deployment stages.

Power electronics engineers are uniquely positioned to lead ethical AI discussions because they possess deep technical knowledge of both AI systems and power conversion technologies, making them essential voices in establishing ethical standards rather than leaving these decisions to others.

Legal and regulatory compliance demands immediate attention, as organizations implementing AI in power electronics face not only technical risks but also legal responsibilities that make ethical frameworks essential rather than optional.

The engineering workforce must be prepared for an AI-ready future, requiring talent development initiatives and training that equip engineers to implement ethical principles throughout the AI lifecycle, from algorithm design through system deployment.