to renewables as well, making them a more cost-
effective and attractive energy option.

Turning points on the AI journey
Healthy skepticism and a culture of favoring action 
over words at Vistra meant that the biggest hurdle 
in the AI journey wasn’t the technology: it was the 
people. Vistra leadership and operations managers 
needed to know what AI could do and be convinced 
it could really work. 

It was this ingrained culture of continuous 
improvement—alongside a highly competitive 
market and a commitment to sustainability—that 
convinced Vistra’s leadership they needed to give AI 
a chance.

Seeing real possibilities
The first question was a relatively simple one:  
“How can AI help improve the way Vistra generates 
power?” 

Answers to that question bubbled over when 
50 of Vistra’s top leaders came to a McKinsey-
hosted workshop. In multiple sessions, experts 
explained how AI worked, walked through detailed
an-ai-power-play-fueling-the-next-wave-of-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-may-2022