Microsoft, Google and others seek to flip the nuclear-AI script
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As tech giants seek nuclear power for AI data centers, the flip side of that coin is emerging — using AI to improve reactor licensing and construction.
Why it matters: Energy demand for data centers is rising fast, and nuclear energy is carbon-free and round-the-clock.
- But getting reactors approved and built is really complex and time-sucking.
- So hyperscalers, startups and federal agencies want AI to speed things up — but carefully.
Driving the news: This week, the latest efforts emerged around both next-wave reactor designs and incumbent models.
- DOE's Idaho National Lab will use a Microsoft tool to create safety and analysis reports that are part of construction and license applications, the parties said Wednesday.
- It ingests and analyzes engineering and safety info, and generates documents that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and DOE require, they said.
"This is a big deal for the nuclear licensing process," Jess Gehin, a top INL scientist, said in a statement.
- "Introducing AI technologies will enhance efficiency and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies."
The intrigue: INL and the company are emphasizing that humans aren't taken out of the loop.
- Microsoft's Nelli Babayan tells Reuters: "It's created for human refinement, so a human can go through each of the sections and, specifically as needed, edit any of the sections, whether manually, or maybe with the help of AI — it's really up to the human."
State of play: Separately, Westinghouse and Google said Tuesday they're working together to harness AI to make building Westinghouse reactors an "efficient, repeatable process."
- They're combining Westinghouse AI tools built on proprietary data with Google's cloud capabilities.
- The tools can help deploy the Westinghouse AP1000 — the same reactor at Plant Vogtle in Georgia, the most recent U.S. project — as well as its SMR design, or improve existing plants, they said.
Catch up quick: Applying AI to nuclear is underway on several fronts. It spans efforts to build new reactors to aiding with regulatory compliance at today's plants.
- The NRC is exploring a suite of ways to stitch AI into the fabric of its work.
- Startups in the space include Atomic Canyon, which recently raised a $7 million round led by prominent climate VC firm Energy Impact Partners.
- Its platform is already being deployed at PG&E's Diablo Canyon plant in California.
The bottom line: Look for more tie-ups ahead like the Westinghouse-Google and INL-Microsoft collaborations.
