With Great Processing Power Comes Great Responsibility: Ethics and Opportunities for AI and Tomorrow’s Workforce

Artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) are moving fast, and they’re set to reshape the nuclear industry. From smarter design and streamlined licensing to enhanced operations and safety, these tools offer powerful new possibilities across the nuclear lifecycle.  But this isn’t about hype, it’s about judgment. Responsible adoption requires professionals who pair strong nuclear engineering fundamentals with the ability to question, validate, and thoughtfully apply AI in high-stakes environments. Just as important is an ethical mindset grounded in transparency, bias awareness, regulatory alignment, and unwavering human accountability in safety decisions. It’s about maintaining trust with engineers and with the public—trust that these tools will accelerate the nuclear industry towards meeting the moment while also maintaining the highest standards. This panel will explore what it takes to harness AI wisely to advance nuclear science and energy, highlighting the skills and partnerships needed to prepare the nuclear workforce for this new era.