Highlights
- Microsoft and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) are collaborating to use AI in expediting nuclear plant permit documentation.
- The AI system will assist in drafting lengthy engineering and safety reports by analyzing historical application data.
- President Trump’s recent executive orders aim to accelerate the licensing process to meet growing energy demands.
- AI could also optimize output from existing nuclear facilities by simplifying license amendment applications.
Microsoft and Idaho Lab Use AI to Fast-Track Nuclear Plant Licensing
Microsoft and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have announced a new partnership to harness artificial intelligence in accelerating the licensing process for nuclear power plants, a move seen as a response to rising energy demands fueled by AI data centers.
Under the partnership, Microsoft’s AI systems will be used to help generate engineering and safety analysis documents—typically hundreds of pages long—that are required to obtain construction permits and operating licenses for nuclear facilities.
These documents, traditionally compiled through a labor-intensive, multiyear process, could now be prepared significantly faster.
AI-Powered Permitting: A Human-AI Collaboration
According to Microsoft’s AI director for federal civilian business, Nelli Babayan, the AI is designed to aid—not replace—humans in the process. “It’s created for human refinement,” Babayan told Reuters.
“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.”
The AI draws on a vast database of past successful applications, allowing it to compile reports based on existing studies and industry standards. The goal is to simplify what is often a complex and technical bureaucratic process.
Policy Shift Driving Innovation
This initiative follows President Donald Trump’s May executive orders aimed at cutting down the nuclear licensing timeline from several years to as little as 18 months. The directive reflects the administration’s strategy to meet energy needs more rapidly, particularly as data centers powered by AI increasingly strain the grid.
Enhancing Existing Plants
Beyond new builds, the AI system could also benefit current nuclear facilities. Scott Ferrara, deputy division director for nuclear safety and regulatory research at INL, said that facilities looking to boost output must apply for license amendments. “A plethora of data already exists from about 82 upgrades that have already taken place,” he noted. “They can just pull right from that data and help generate their license amendment request.”
By combining cutting-edge technology and regulatory reform, the Microsoft-INL collaboration may mark a significant step forward for the future of clean, scalable energy in the U.S.
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