How 3 Enterprise Owners Are Using “AI” for Energy Management—Lessons from Wendy’s, Amazon, and Microsoft

This NexusCon 2025 panel, moderated by Rachel Kennedy (Solutions Engineer, KODE Labs), brings together April Yi (Director, Digital Engineering, Microsoft), Niharika Kishore (Sr. Sustainability Specialist, Amazon), and Thomas Grant (Global Manager of Energy and DTV Energy, Wendy’s) to unpack what “AI for energy management” actually means in practice.

Rachel opens by cutting through the generative AI hype, clearly distinguishing machine learning, optimization, FDD, and agentic AI—so building owners stop comparing apples to oranges. From there, the panel dives into how these organizations are applying AI across offices, warehouses, and restaurants to reduce energy without breaking operations. The focus stays grounded in real portfolios, real constraints, and real decision-making.

Behind the paywall, you’ll hear candid lessons on what had to be in place before AI worked at all—data, controls, networks, and internal alignment—and what went wrong when teams moved too fast. Amazon shares why a sweeping temperature reset backfired within days, Wendy’s explains why kitchens behaved very differently than expected, and Microsoft walks through how imperfect data (badge swipes and Wi-Fi, not sensors) still drove usable outcomes.

The panel also digs into automation vs. human control, why “big red buttons” matter, and how AI can realistically reduce FM bandwidth without overpromising autonomy. If you’re evaluating AI vendors, pilots, or internal builds, this recording will sharpen your filters fast.

Watch the full recording inside Nexus Pro →