The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in smart grids redefines energy management, optimizing power system stability, efficiency, and sustainability. This article explores the applications of AI in demand forecasting, power flow optimization, adaptive demand response and early fault detection, highlighting how these techniques improve decision making and grid resilience in the face of variability from renewable sources. Methodologically, a comprehensive literature review is conducted on academic bases, assessing the transformative impact of AI on electricity infrastructure. The findings point to regulatory barriers and high infrastructure costs as critical obstacles to its implementation, in addition to technical and security challenges inherent to digitization. It concludes that, despite the challenges, AI has the potential to transform power grids into adaptive and robust systems, being key to a sustainable energy future. This research provides a relevant conceptual framework for the development and optimization of smart grids through AI, urging a collaborative approach that embraces regulation, technological innovation, and cybersecurity.