The Rise of Energy Demand

The demand for energy is anticipated to rise significantly due to the increased deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which are highly energy intensive. As discussed in a recent thought leadership piece, there is a strong intersection between nuclear power and AI. Nuclear power generation is well-positioned to address the growing need for powering AI, while the nuclear power industry and its primary regulator, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), are looking to leverage AI to increase efficiency and strategic decision-making.

NRC’s Recent Report

The NRC staff recently published a report identifying how AI may be used to enhance work within the NRC. This report is the result of NRC Chairman Christopher Hanson’s October 2023 memorandum directing staff to review how AI could streamline operations, optimize processes, and make well-informed decisions.

Strategic Plan for AI

The report follows the NRC’s issuance of NUREG-2261 in 2023, known as the AI Strategic Plan, wherein the NRC acknowledged that while it does not currently employ AI technologies, it anticipates increased use of AI in NRC-regulated activities. The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to ensure the NRC staff’s readiness to review and evaluate the use of AI in these activities.

The Review Process

To conduct the review detailed in the report, the executive director for operations established a team from the Office of the Chief Information Officer and the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (AI Team). This team encouraged staff to evaluate and suggest ways the NRC might use AI to enhance their work, termed “AI use cases.” They partnered with NRC data scientists and outside AI experts to evaluate the viability of these proposed use cases.

Identified Use Cases

The AI Team identified 36 potential AI use cases that would enhance staff productivity and support the workforce. Of these, 16 would apply AI to automate routine tasks and implement workflow improvements, making daily tasks more efficient, such as summarizing meeting transcripts and documents. The remaining 20 use cases involve predictive analytics, automating the review of public comments on proposed regulations, and aiding inspectors in scheduling and planning their availability.

Next Steps for Implementation

The staff identified two next steps for the NRC to successfully implement AI. First, they recommend developing an enterprise-wide AI strategy to advance AI use within the agency, ensuring alignment with federal policy for safe and responsible AI usage. This strategy would include preparing AI governance for responsible implementation and ensuring the NRC workforce has the necessary data literacy skills.

Second, the staff recommends investing in foundational tools to advance AI use. In fiscal year 2025, staff plans to invest in two foundational AI tools addressing several use cases and facilitating staff learning. Emphasis will be placed on governance, data readiness, and training before implementing these tools.