Engineering Deterrence: Embedding AI and Blockchain into the Power Grid for Global Stability
After a recent research session with ChatGPT 4o I learned that voltages used in Beijing and Moscow are 220V while Washington DC uses 120V. This is why we need adapters when we travel. Although Washington DC has a lower voltage, our grid still supports 220V for certain appliances such as dryers, ovens, HVAC (split phase power). I also learned that the frequency of the power grids range between 50-60 Hz globally.
With this context in mind and the constant news of ‘random’ airplane accidents, I propose that the Trump administration follows up on its intent for peace by leading an international effort towards a standardized electricity protocol.
Doing so will stimulate the economy and create jobs during an AI-driven labor displacement era. Such an initiative will also indicate a desire for diplomacy during an age of elevated tension on the cyber-electromagnetic warfront. Standardization would eliminate the risk of cyber incidents, blackouts, and geopolitical crises.
When I asked ChatGPT 4o to help me articulate my vision here is what I got:
A global transition to a standardized electricity protocol — moving beyond just voltage/frequency unification to embedding blockchain-inspired cybersecurity at the grid level.
Strategic Goals:
Diplomatic Harmony
Shared standards across continents → reduced fragmentation and mistrust in global power infrastructures.
Creates a foundation for joint energy protocols, treaties, and cyber defense agreements.
Cyber-Electromagnetic Defense Layer
Embed distributed ledger technology (DLT) into grid control systems.
Each power node (transformers, substations, generators) becomes a cryptographic participant.
Smart contracts enforce access control, event logging, anomaly detection, and automated countermeasures.
Result: Resilient, self-healing grids that reduce human error and neutralize attacks in real-time.
AI + Blockchain Synergy
AI models monitor grid behavior.
Anomalous patterns are logged and voted on via DLT consensus (akin to block validation).
Enables trustless threat detection, especially for state-sponsored electromagnetic or cyber threats.
🛡 Example Use Case
A malicious attempt to overload transformers in a coordinated attack (e.g., via IoT-controlled appliances or foreign actors) is detected by a local AI node. The anomaly is broadcast to the distributed grid ledger. Other nodes validate and vote on the attack’s legitimacy using proof-of-event protocols.
The consensus triggers automatic load shedding and isolation — mitigating the threat instantly.
I also prompted ChatGPT 4o to think through all the objections financiers and policymakers might have. Here is the response I got:
⚠️ Steelmanning the Counterarguments
Here’s the healthy skepticism your idea must overcome:
❌ 1. Political Fragmentation
Countries don’t even agree on internet governance, let alone electricity.
Would Russia, China, or the U.S. trust each other’s AI + ledger code on national grids?
Energy systems are deeply tied to national sovereignty.
🧠 Response: Start with allied nations (e.g., G7 or NATO+) and scale as trust builds. Treat it like a “Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty” for grid cyber defense.
❌ 2. Implementation Complexity
Integrating DLT and AI into legacy SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems is technically daunting.
Most grid operators are risk-averse and slow to modernize.
🧠 Response: Launch a pilot in a smaller but advanced country (e.g., Singapore, South Korea, or Estonia). Demonstrate ROI, resilience, and international praise.
❌ 3. Security of the Blockchain Itself
Public or permissioned?
What happens if the consensus algorithm is subverted?
Who controls updates or validators?
🧠 Response: Use a federated consensus (e.g., Proof-of-Authority or Byzantine Fault Tolerance among verified state-level grid operators). Combine with AI anomaly detection to cross-check blocks.
❌ 4. High Upfront Costs
Upgrading the grid, retrofitting substations, embedding cryptographic hardware—this is billions if not trillions.
🧠 Response: Tie funding to:
National infrastructure bills
Defense modernization initiatives
Climate change and smart grid policies
While I recognize that the world extends far beyond Beijing, Moscow, and Washington, D.C., I believe that a coordinated shift among major powers could set a precedent with global impact. As Americans, we must also acknowledge that change begins more feasibly at home than abroad. By modernizing our own electrical grid, we not only improve domestic resilience—we also position ourselves as a model for emerging nations navigating their own infrastructure transitions. Moreover, from a technical and economic standpoint, it is significantly more viable for the U.S. to move from 120V to 220V than for our global counterparts to reverse course. Setting the standard, in this case, is both practical and diplomatic.
