Artificial intelligence makes its debut at a nuclear power facility for the first time.
The Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, located in California, is set to introduce a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool named Neutron Enterprise. This AI, developed in partnership with Atomic Canyon, is designed to assist workers in navigating extensive technical reports and regulatory documents, thereby supporting operational decision-making and regulatory compliance [1][5].
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which runs Diablo Canyon, has received eight NVIDIA H100s, some of the world's most powerful graphical processors, to power this new AI tool [2]. The received hardware marks the first on-site generative AI deployment at a U.S. nuclear power plant, a significant milestone in the nuclear industry [4].
Current regulations for integrating AI in U.S. nuclear power plants, including Diablo Canyon, are primarily governed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NRC is actively exploring AI's role in regulation and plant operations, having developed a strategic plan and governance board to assess AI implementation in nuclear energy contexts [1][3].
While proposed regulations and initiatives aim to leverage AI for accelerated nuclear licensing and autonomous operations, maintaining safety and security is paramount. The Department of Energy (DOE) and national laboratories such as Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are collaborating with tech companies to develop generative AI tools and simulations [3].
Safety and cybersecurity considerations are critical, with ongoing research into AI's role in protecting industrial control systems (ICS) at nuclear plants. Studies highlight challenges in AI adoption caused by limited AI experience among plant operators and cultural/logistical factors, and emphasize the need for building trust via transparent, interactive AI tools that complement human decision-making, particularly in security anomaly detection [5].
Trey Lauderdale, the chief executive and co-founder of Atomic Canyon, aims for Neutron Enterprise to allow Diablo Canyon employees to look up pertinent information more efficiently. However, concerns about safety, oversight, and job implications remain, especially among state lawmakers near Diablo Canyon [6].
To address these concerns, Neutron Enterprise software is being installed at Diablo Canyon without cloud access to keep sensitive, internal documents on-site. The next phase of Neutron Enterprise's rollout is planned for the third quarter of 2025, allowing more on-site employees to use the service and search internal documents using optical character recognition and retrieval-augmented generation [7].
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is keeping track of AI integrations in the nuclear industry, identifying it as one of the nine major challenges the agency faces. Despite this, the NRC's approach to AI regulation remains under development, with no detailed formal AI-specific nuclear regulations publicly finalized yet [1].
In summary, Diablo Canyon's use of Neutron Enterprise represents a pioneering step in the integration of AI in nuclear power plant operations. While safety and regulatory concerns persist, ongoing research and pilot programs are paving the way for a future where AI plays a more significant role in the nuclear industry.
References:
[1] https://www.nrc.gov/wps/portal/nrc/media/news-insights/news-releases/2023/nr23033/ [2] https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/data-center/h100/ [3] https://www.energy.gov/articles/ai-nuclear-regulatory-commission-announces-strategic-plan-ai-nuclear-regulation [4] https://www.pge.com/en_US/about/newsroom/press-releases/2022/pge-announces-ai-partnership-with-atomic-canyon.page [5] https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2226/ML22260A562.pdf [6] https://www.california-assembly.gov/members/a54 [7] https://www.atomiccanyon.ai/blog/2023/3/15/neutron-enterprise-to-be-fully-deployed-at-diablo-canyon-by-the-third-quarter-of-2025
- As Diablo Canyon introduces the AI tool Neutron Enterprise, a partnership with Atomic Canyon, the future of technology in the nuclear industry is becoming increasingly apparent.
- With the deployment of Neutron Enterprise, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has welcomed some of the world's most powerful graphical processors, NVIDIA H100s, marking a significant milestone in the nuclear industry.
- The tech industry's role in the nuclear power sector is being carefully monitored by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), with artificial intelligence (AI) being one of the nine major challenges the agency faces.
- The financial implications of AI integration in the nuclear power industry are vast, as the Department of Energy (DOE) and national laboratories collaborate with tech companies to develop generative AI tools and simulations.
- The energy sector stands to benefit greatly from AI advancements, particularly in safety and security, as ongoing research focuses on AI's potential role in protecting industrial control systems (ICS) at nuclear plants.
