The nuclear power sector must embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to remain competitive in the electricity generation market and attract investment, because AI is increasingly being used in competing generation technologies. High-level principles for deploying AI in this realm while maintaining adequate safety and security form the core of a document prepared by U.K., U.S. and Canadian nuclear regulators.

Emerging AI technology can streamline and expedite the nuclear regulatory licensing and compliance process and make it much more cost effective for both the licensee and the regulator. AI could aid energy planning based on a comprehensive dataset and a trained community energy foundation model that captures characteristics of (and interactions between) physical infrastructure, human behavior and climate or weather impacts. AI can potentially reduce future power needs by optimizing site selection requirements such as the amount of water needed to operate efficiently.

Generative AI and digital engineering technologies, such as digital tools and software used to design, build and analyze engineering systems, could also dramatically reduce the time and cost before construction and reduce the probability of errors during the construction phase.

The document covers common areas of focus for regulators when approaching AI; understanding how to manage systems based on the consequences of AI failure and the level of AI autonomy; the importance of human and organizational factors in the use of AI; integrating AI into existing nuclear systems; managing the AI lifecycle from design to deployment; and considerations for safety cases for AI in nuclear applications.