Eleanor Barr has returned to university for the final year of her Human Geography degree following a 12-week placement with Peterson’s Operational Technology team, where she explored Lighthouse and its AI agent.
Her work demonstrated how the technology can strengthen end-to-end visibility, make complex information easier to navigate and support more informed decision-making across the supply chain.
What did your work with the Lighthouse team involve?
Over the course of my 12-week placement I worked within the OT team focusing on Lighthouse and its AI agent, which was an exciting project to be part of. I carried out my own project of evaluating the current status of AI in its development journey. This involved meeting key stakeholders, stress-testing the AI agent and exploring its capabilities and limitations. I concluded my placement by presenting my findings and recommendations in a final report and presentation.
What did you enjoy most about the role?
I really enjoyed being part of a team developing innovative technology during a period of change in both the energy industry and technology. Seeing how new systems were created, tested and deployed helped me develop new skills and confidence. Meeting people across the business and hearing different perspectives on AI was another highlight.
Did the experience change your view of AI?
I was impressed by how the Lighthouse AI agent could quickly understand the broader supply chain context, connect information across different sources, and surface the insights that actually matter. It showed me how AI can go beyond simply providing information to become a trusted source of intelligence, helping teams see what’s happening across the supply chain, understand why it matters, and make better-informed decisions.
What advice would you give another student considering a placement?
I would encourage students to be open-minded and not feel that a placement has to directly align with their degree to be valuable. I study Human Geography, and although my placement took me into an unfamiliar area, that became one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
Working as part of a team, leading my own project and stepping outside my comfort zone helped me develop transferable skills and confidence that I can take into my final year and future career. The experience has also created unexpected links with my studies. I’m enrolled in a module on AI and social justice, where I’m looking forward to applying the knowledge and perspectives I gained during my placement.
I’ll also be writing my dissertation on the role AI could play as a tool in supporting a just energy transition, so the practical insights I’ve gained from working with AI at Peterson will be invaluable.
