"We are training artificial intelligence (AI) on the vast amounts of data produced during the construction of past nuclear power plants. Using AI can reduce risks in next-generation nuclear projects and create efficient operating models."
Mesut Uzman, head of Fermi America, said this in a keynote speech on "Nuclear power opening the AI era" at the 2026 Korea Atomic Power Annual Conference held on the 22nd at the Busan Exhibition & Convention Center (BEXCO) in Busan.
Head Mesut Uzman is a nuclear power expert with 25 years of experience executing large-scale nuclear projects in the Middle East, Asia and the United States. He took part in building 16 reactors worldwide, including China's AP1000 and the UAE's Barakah plant. He was appointed chief nuclear officer (CNO) of Fermi America in Aug. last year.
Fermi America is currently planning to build a 17 GW power complex on land the size of 5,500 soccer fields in Carson County, Texas. The plan is to construct four AP1000 reactors designed by Westinghouse alongside a natural gas combined-cycle plant. With AI, the company expects to operate the site with fewer than 100 personnel.
Uzman emphasized that AI and nuclear power are complementary. He said, "With the rise of AI data centers, global electricity consumption is increasing rapidly," and added, "For AI data centers to run stably, they need carbon-free power 24/7, 365 days a year, and only nuclear plants meet that need."
Recently, big tech corporations have been going all out to secure nuclear power for the same reason. Microsoft signed a power purchase agreement to restart the Three Mile Island (TMI) plant, and Amazon decided to pursue direct power transactions with a plant by acquiring a data center campus near Talen Energy's nuclear facility. Google signed a power supply agreement with Kairos Power, an SMR developer.
He also stressed that AI is needed to ensure nuclear plants are built and operated safely. Fermi America is training AI on the accumulated nuclear-related data to boost productivity. He said the Vogtle project in Georgia, which faced schedule delays and expense overruns during construction, is also being used as valuable training data.
He said AI is also being used in collaboration with Korean corporations. Fermi America is working with Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Doosan Enerbility and Samsung C&T on large nuclear plants and small modular reactor (SMR) projects.
He added, "We are collaborating by creating structures and digital workspaces that allow the United States and Korea to respond in real time based on AI," and "AI is enabling nuclear plants to be built faster and more smoothly."