Making AI fit for purpose: DOE-led applications in energy and nuclear research

August 5, 2024, 12:00PMNuclear News
The ALCF AI Testbed includes the AI systems represented in this collage: Cerebras, Graphcore, Groq, and SambaNova. (Image: Argonne National Laboratory)

Generative artificial intelligence paired with advanced diagnostic tools could detect potential problems in nuclear power plants and deliver a straightforward explanation to operators in real time. That’s the premise of research out of the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, and just one example of the DOE’s increasing exploration of AI applications in nuclear science and technology research. Training and restraining novel AI systems take expertise and data, and the DOE has access to both. According to a flurry of reports and announcements in recent months, the DOE is setting out its plans to ensure the United States can use AI to its advantage to enhance energy security and national security.

To continue reading, log in or create a free account!

Related Articles

Washington legislators look to nuclear

February 26, 2026, 7:19AMNuclear News

It has been an unusually busy week in the world of West Coast nuclear legislative momentum. In California, a bill is aiming to effectively repeal the state’s nuclear moratorium, while in...

INL opens molten salt testing facility

February 25, 2026, 8:12AMNuclear News

Idaho National Laboratory has announced that the National Reactor Innovation Center’s Molten Salt Thermophysical Examination Capability (MSTEC) facility will begin operations in March...

Hanford exhaust stack demolished

February 24, 2026, 1:12PMNuclear News

The Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management recently announced that, with the help of contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company, it has completed the safe demolition of...

Tempering ambition

February 23, 2026, 9:37AMNuclear NewsCraig Piercy

I spent a fair amount of time over the holiday break pondering the makings of a good year for nuclear technology in 2026.Last year was white-­hot. Between the fundamental upward shift in...

Ward250 reactor rides cargo to Utah

February 18, 2026, 9:42AMNuclear News

A public-private partnership between the Departments of Defense and Energy and Valar Atomics marked a milestone over the weekend when Valar’s Ward250 microreactor was transported (without...