AI and Nuclear: A Virtuous Circle of American Innovation, Says Energy Secretary Chris Wright
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said this week that artificial intelligence could transform how the United States designs, builds, and operates nuclear power plants, calling it a “virtuous circle” that strengthens both technologies.
Speaking on Fox News, Wright explained that AI can “rapidly accelerate our ability to make nuclear reactors fast, cheap, and get more power.” He said advances in automation, simulation, and digital design could drastically cut the time and cost required to develop new reactors. “You get more reactors online and more power, that’s going to accelerate AI. You get a virtuous circle of AI making nuclear better, nuclear making AI better,” he said.
Wright added that this kind of innovation required bold policymaking: “These are the kind of innovations and bold moves that wouldn’t have been possible under a heavy, bureaucratic, afraid-of-our-shadow government. I think President Trump’s bold leadership is unleashing American innovation.”
The remarks come as the White House pushes forward with two major technology directives. The Executive Order on American Artificial Intelligence Leadership focuses on expanding U.S. AI development and infrastructure while promoting domestic chipmaking and energy-efficient data centers. The Executive Order on Revitalizing U.S. Nuclear Energy aims to accelerate advanced reactor deployment, expand small modular reactor (SMR) manufacturing, and modernize the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval process.
Together, these moves reflect an effort to pair technological and industrial strength—positioning AI as a design tool and nuclear power as a clean, dense energy source capable of supporting America’s next generation of computing.