INDIANAPOLIS—As artificial intelligence makes it harder to distinguish what’s real from what’s fake, electric cooperative professionals must rely more heavily on trusted relationships and peer networks to strengthen their cyber defenses. That was one of several significant takeaways from NRECA’s 2026 Co-op Cyber Tech.

“No longer is it your firewalls, it’s your judgment that’s being attacked,” said Carter Manucy, NRECA senior director of cybersecurity, at the fifth annual conference geared toward strengthening co-ops’ cyber defenses.

“AI is making it harder to trust what we see and hear, which means trusted relationships become more important than ever," he said.

To illustrate that point, Manucy opened the conference with a live demonstration. Music played throughout J.W. Marriott’s ballroom before he took the stage and asked the more than 400 attendees if they recognized that last smooth country tune. A show of hands indicated many believed they did.

Manucy then revealed the song did not exist until shortly before the conference. Using generative AI tools, he had created it himself through a series of prompts.

“In those first few seconds, some of you thought that song was real, but the gap of uncertainty is where risk begins,” he said. “When the signal gets noisy, what matters most is not more data, it’s knowing who to call. That’s why we’re here. That’s why Co-op Cyber Tech is so important.”

The exercise demonstrated how quickly AI-generated content can create confidence without certainty—a challenge that increasingly extends beyond music to emails, voice messages, images and other forms of communication.

The conference spotlighted NRECA’s cybersecurity tools and services—from the Threat Analysis Center to the Cyber Champions and Co-op Cyber Goals— that provide co-ops with practical resources, peer connections and guidance for improving cyber resilience.

Jeffrey Connor, NRECA chief operating officer and acting senior vice president of Business and Technology Strategies, encouraged attendees to use Co-op Cyber Tech as an opportunity to share knowledge to help strengthen their co-ops’ security.

“We are really stronger collaborating, learning from one another and supporting one another,” he said. “You have strongly committed partners in this room. I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity to be here, to be together, to do this great work and continue to make your co-ops in our sector, the energy industry, a leader in cybersecurity.”

Keynote speaker Michael Ball, senior vice president of the North American Electric Reliability Corp., underscored the importance of intelligence and collaboration to address the uptick in today’s complex cyberthreats.

“Resiliency is how we ultimately get through this,” said Ball, who also is CEO of Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC), which is free for co-ops to join. “The ability to respond is foundational and will get you through a bad day.”

Ball described geopolitical cyberthreats to critical infrastructure and advised co-ops to shore up their defenses through cybersecurity education and training of staff and by reducing their network’s internet exposure.

“Bring every single person into your awareness campaign and create critical thinking because social engineering is one of the most prominent elements in attacks,” he said, noting how Manucy’s AI-generated song easily passed as real. “Building that sense of alertness is very important. We’re going to have to be more skeptical of things we see and hear. It’s upon us now.”

Ball lauded NRECA’s Cyber Goals and other tools and services for co-ops. “These tools help you be more prepared,” he said. “I encourage you to take advantage of them.”

He also emphasized that the audience should expand their cybersecurity expertise through personal contacts at Co-op Cyber Tech.

“Build another connection—one more person you know—and you are better off when you leave.”