The states of power equipment are closely related to the stability and safety of power system. It is the key premise and important basis for the reliable and economic power service to thoroughly and precisely grasp the internal and external data of the power equipment

to summarize and fuse the related information by scientific approach

to evaluate and predict their state and tendency

and to and arrange reasonable maintenance schedule. The fast developments of efficiency

accuracy and self-learning ability of artificial intelligence（AI） fast in the recognition

prediction

optimization

and decision task provide a new methodology for the operation and maintenance of power equipment. In this paper

we review the key technologies and applications of AI in power equipment operation and maintenance

which are organized in three levels

i.e.

data

algorithms and applications. We analyze the situation and existing problems of the related data and outline the framework of AI and the characteristics and application scopes of the key technologies. Then we summarize the development and difficulties of AI in various scenarios

and propose the possible solutions in the future. Finally

the major problems of AI in the application are analyzed and the development tendencies and advises are proposed.