In a landmark development poised to reshape the future of America’s energy infrastructure, Microsoft Corporation and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have unveiled a strategic partnership to use artificial intelligence in overhauling the regulatory approval process for nuclear power plants.
The collaboration aims to dramatically reduce the time, complexity, and cost associated with obtaining permits to build or upgrade nuclear facilities an area long mired in bureaucratic red tape and technical documentation.
At the heart of the initiative is Microsoft’s AI technology, which will be used to analyze decades of application data, generate technical reports, and streamline the drafting of license applications. The AI tools are designed not to replace human judgment, but to enhance it.
“It’s created for human refinement… whether manually or with AI support it’s really up to the human,” said Nelli Babayan, Microsoft’s AI Director for Federal Civilian Business, in an interview with Reuters.
A Policy Push from Washington
The partnership comes amid a renewed federal push to accelerate nuclear energy development. In May, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for a drastic reduction in the timeline for nuclear licensing from the typical multi-year process to as little as 18 months.
This urgency is driven by rising energy demands from AI-powered data centers and other power-hungry digital infrastructure. Nuclear energy, with its high reliability and zero carbon emissions, is seen as a vital pillar of the country’s long-term energy strategy.
Beyond New Plants: Modernizing the Old
The AI tools won’t just be applied to new plant construction. They’ll also assist nuclear operators in upgrading existing facilities. Increasing a plant’s output requires a license amendment supported by extensive performance data and engineering documentation a process that has historically taken years.
“A plethora of data already exists from about 82 upgrades that have already taken place,” explained Scott Ferrara, Deputy Division Director for Nuclear Safety and Regulatory Research at INL.
“AI can pull from that data and help generate their license amendment request, making the process much more efficient.”
A Glimpse Into the Future
By embedding artificial intelligence into the core of nuclear regulation, Microsoft and INL are not only streamlining paperwork they’re laying the foundation for a faster, smarter, and more resilient energy infrastructure.
The move also signals a broader trend in which tech companies are becoming central to national infrastructure solutions, especially in fields where data, safety, and innovation intersect.
If successful, the partnership could mark a turning point for nuclear energy in the United States, unlocking faster development timelines while preserving the rigorous safety standards that have long defined the industry.
