The Synergy Between AI and Nuclear Innovation 

The expanding use of AI has dramatically increased energy requirements, encouraging leading technology companies to consider nuclear power as a viable and sustainable energy source. At the same time, advancements in nuclear energy are supplying the infrastructure needed to maximize AI’s capabilities. 

The relationship between AI and nuclear technology can be described as symbiotic, with each field enhancing the other’s potential. 

Earlier this month, Meta announced that it is seeking proposals from nuclear power developers to help the tech giant meet its AI and environmental goals. The company wants to add 1 to 4 gigawatts of new nuclear energy capacity starting in the early 2030s. 

"At Meta, we believe nuclear energy will play a pivotal role in the transition to a cleaner, more reliable, and diversified electric grid," the company said in a release.

Meta is not the only company taking a keen interest in nuclear power amid a boom in electricity demand. Amazon has agreed to purchase a nuclear-powered data center from Talen Energy for $650 million. The campus, powered by the nearby Susquehanna nuclear plant, will provide Amazon with reliable, carbon-free energy. This deal supports Amazon’s goal to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. 

Google has also finalized a deal with Kairos Power to use small nuclear reactors to generate the vast amounts of energy needed to power its AI data centers. This agreement supports AI-driven advancements by providing clean, reliable energy. It also promotes nuclear power as a carbon-free solution to meet global electricity demands and drive decarbonization.

 "The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies," said Michael Terrell, senior director for energy and climate at Google."This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone."

As the world grapples with increasing energy demands and the urgent need to address climate change, clean and reliable energy sources are more critical than ever. In this context, nuclear power is being increasingly viewed as a key part of the solution.

"Nuclear energy, if we do it right, will help us solve our climate goals," Bill Gates told ABC News. "That is, get rid of the greenhouse gas emissions without making the electricity system far more expensive or less reliable."

"Nuclear has some incredible pluses," Gates added. "It's not weather dependent, you can build a plant, but the amount of energy coming out of a very small plant is gigantic."

Shifting gears to the other side of the equation, let’s now look at how AI is facilitating advancements in nuclear technology. One of the key ways it helps is by improving the design, efficiency, and safety of next-generation reactors. 

Yang Liu, a Texas A&M nuclear engineering professor, is using AI and machine learning (ML) to enhance nuclear reactor simulations and operations. As part of a U.S. Department of Energy award, Liu is focusing on molten salt reactors, a type of nuclear reactor, which offers higher efficiency and safety compared to traditional reactors.

The research uses AI for “physics-informed modeling”, where data from experiments is utilized to train machine learning models. These models are then refined by adding physical constraints to ensure they align with the real-world behavior of nuclear reactors. The project also explores using ML to simulate experiments, reducing the need for costly and complex physical testing. 

“We are in the era of big data, like on the internet, where people are generating texts, images, and videos on the level of terabytes every day,” Liu said. “In the nuclear engineering community, we're also entering an era of big data, which comes from high-fidelity simulations and high-resolution experiments.”

“There's a lot of work that needs to be done,” Liu emphasized. “We need to demonstrate that the reactor is safe, and we need to demonstrate that the reactor is efficient and profitable if we build a commercial-scale reactor for generating power.”

AI is advancing nuclear technology by optimizing reactor designs, enhancing safety, and lowering costs. Additionally, it improves fuel management, ensuring optimal fuel usage and minimizing waste. 

The fusion of AI and nuclear technology holds the potential to redefine what’s possible. However, there are hurdles along the way, including technical challenges and regulatory concerns. Nuclear operations are typically highly sensitive and may require a higher level of reliability and precision. As we approach 2025, we'll gain a clearer understanding of these obstacles and how companies and governments plan to tackle them.