Microsoft and NVIDIA have decided to join forces to simplify the bureaucratic and engineering processes associated with the construction of nuclear power plants. By using AI-based tools, the companies aim to optimize design, obtain permits, and prepare the necessary documentation.
As part of the new initiative aimed at integrating AI into nuclear energy, the focus is not on the construction itself, but on the "paperwork." Microsoft President Brad Smith noted that this collaboration covers all aspects of the lifecycle of nuclear plants.
Building a nuclear power plant involves processing large volumes of data and compiling reports, which can take years and require significant financial investments. While the U.S. administration is trying to streamline this process by easing safety requirements, Microsoft and NVIDIA are emphasizing the use of AI.
The companies propose to develop a digital ecosystem on the Azure platform, which will include Microsoft solutions such as Generative AI for Permitting and Planetary Computer, as well as NVIDIA technologies, including Omniverse, Earth 2, CUDA-X, AI Enterprise, PhysicsNeMo, Isaac Sim, and Metropolis.
According to Microsoft, the Generative AI for Permitting tool has already allowed Aalo Atomics, a company developing small modular reactors, to reduce the workload for obtaining permits by 92%. Southern Nuclear has also implemented AI agents based on Microsoft Copilot to improve design and licensing processes. Meanwhile, NVIDIA will ensure the creation of digital twins and high-precision simulations.
The growing demand for electricity, driven by the construction of data centers, has led to increased interest in nuclear energy. Microsoft has signed a 20-year energy purchase agreement with Constellation Energy to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, which is expected to begin operations no earlier than 2028.
The record Microsoft and NVIDIA to accelerate the creation of nuclear reactors using AI first appeared in K-News.
