Google and Westinghouse unleash AI to build nuclear reactors faster than ever

Interesting Engineering ^ | July 16, 2025 | Neetika Walter

[Red Badger]

Westinghouse’s HiVE and bertha AI platforms, paired with Google Cloud tools, aim to speed up nuclear construction.

In a first-of-its-kind move, Westinghouse Electric Company and Google Cloud have teamed up to leverage artificial intelligence for streamlining nuclear reactor construction.

Their AI-powered tools autonomously generate and optimize modular work packages for advanced reactors.

The collaboration pairs Westinghouse’s proprietary HiVE™ and bertha™ nuclear AI solutions with Google Cloud technologies such as Vertex AI, Gemini, and BigQuery.

Vertex AI is Google’s platform for building and deploying machine learning models, Gemini is its most advanced generative AI model, and BigQuery is a scalable, serverless data warehouse.

When AI meets atoms Used together, these tools can analyze large volumes of data, power generative AI applications, and help automate complex engineering workflows, such as those involved in modular nuclear reactor construction.

According to the companies, this combination will not only accelerate the deployment of Westinghouse’s AP1000® modular reactors but also enhance operations across existing nuclear power plants using data-driven insights.

“As the only fully licensed, construction-ready modular reactor available today, our AP1000 technology is the quickest way to add new sources of affordable and abundant nuclear energy to the U.S. grid,” said Dan Sumner, Westinghouse Interim Chief Executive Officer.

“By partnering with Google Cloud to enhance our HiVE and bertha technology, and backed by 75 years of our proprietary nuclear data, we can accelerate the deployment of new AP1000 units while implementing powerful AI technologies that will optimize the construction and operations of nuclear power plants.”

The two companies have already completed a successful proof of concept using Westinghouse’s WNEXUS digital plant design platform alongside HiVE AI and Google Cloud’s tools.

This proof of concept demonstrated the autonomous generation and optimization of construction work packages specifically for AP1000 modular reactors, an effort aimed at turning what is typically a complex, labor-intensive process into a streamlined, repeatable workflow.

“This partnership with Westinghouse combines Google Cloud’s AI technologies and expertise with Westinghouse’s century-long expertise in nuclear innovation to chart a new path towards a smarter and safer future,” said Kyle Jessen, Managing Director, Commercial Industries, Google Cloud.

“Artificial intelligence is not merely a tool; it can give companies a critical competitive advantage. Westinghouse is demonstrating what’s possible.”

From code to core

Westinghouse’s HiVE and bertha platforms underpin this AI-driven approach. First introduced in September 2024, HiVE is a nuclear-specific generative AI system built on more than seven decades of proprietary industry data.

Bertha—a large language model named after Bertha Lamme, Westinghouse’s first female engineer—is tailored for reactor lifecycle tasks such as maintenance planning, inspections, and digital workflows.

Together, the AI platforms are supported by dedicated nuclear engineers and are positioned to help plant operators deliver more reliable, cost-effective electricity to homes and businesses, whether through new AP1000 units, AP300™ small modular reactors, or eVinci® microreactor technologies.

The U.S. nuclear sector has seen decades of limited growth, but rising electricity demand from data centers, electrification, and manufacturing is driving renewed interest.

While Westinghouse and Google Cloud aim to streamline new reactor construction, the companies have not disclosed deployment timelines for these AI-powered capabilities.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Military/Veterans; Society
KEYWORDS:

[Red Badger]

We'll have fusion powered flying cars before the first one ever gets built..................

[ConservativeMind]

Google will be sharing all of that special knowledge with the world, soon, through AI requests…

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Yeah, that's the ticket. Build nuclear reactors based on nondeterministic rando output from software which no one understands, and often "hallucinates".

[linMcHlp]

Colossal AI

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Westinghouse is/was Number One for Nuclear Reactors.

[Don W]

Odd how suddenly the left isn’t fighting nuclear power with all their might.

When the public needed power, it was NO NO NO! Now that some mega-corporations that want to control our daily lives need more power, it’s YES YES YES!

Almost like this was intentional.

I’m old enough to remember when nuclear power was going to make electricity so cheap that it wasn’t going to be metered, you just paid an annual connection fee. Yeah, then the “environMENTALists” got going...

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

The components for the SMRs are already being built. All they needed was planning permission to start construction.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Yes. I remember when Jane Fonda and Felix Ungar were going to stop "the China Syndrome".
They whipped up people in a frenzy over nuclear power, and crippled the program for 30 or 40 years.

[larrytown]

How is “Google Cloud” going to stop the usual union shenanigans with all their acronyms?

Knew a fellow that helped to build containment facility for a reactor some years ago - they built to rigid specs during the day - inspector would come near end of the day and condemn it, and a regularly scheduled crew would come in every evening to tear out some or all of that day’s work. This went on for months - until union decided (or got paid off) that they got enough and let the work proceed.

[BBQToadRibs2]

This has the making of a disaster/thriller/Godzilla movie.

[nagant]

Apparently construction is not the speed limiting factor slowing down reactor construction. It’s bureaucracy.

[NorthMountain]

That has been true for decades. Also: Why don’t we reprocess “spent” reactor fuel? Because that &^%$(*&%)^ JIMMY CARTER banned it by executive order ... and no president since has had the guts to overturn it.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Yep. The “China Syndrome” followed by the Three Mile Island incident killed the Nuclear Industry except for Rickover’s “Nuclear Navy.”

[Red Badger]

UNIONS....................

There was a documentary back in the 70’s or 80’s about a nuke plant that had been ‘under construction’ for decades.

A union guy was being interviewed, in silhouette, and he said that they would damage things intentionally so they would have to be replaced, re-inspected, retested and they did this all over the site so that the work never would be completed and their jobs were safe.

However the plant was eventually scrapped due to cost overruns and they were all out of a job................

[Red Badger]

Chernobyl didn’t help either...............

[Red Badger]

See Post 14.................

[Red Badger]

Yep, suddenly it’s GOOD to go NUCLEAR...................

[larrytown]

!

The one I knew about actually did finally open - still running today, fortunately.

[Ditto]

I’m old enough to remember when nuclear power was going to make electricity so cheap that it wasn’t going to be metered,

You do understand that no one in the nuclear industry ever said that or even thought it. It was an army general who had no idea how to generate electricity who said that and the morons in the press picked up on it and ran with it. It was total nonsense from the get go.

[Vaduz]

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH?
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers numerous benefits, including increased efficiency, improved healthcare, and new possibilities in research. However, it also presents risks such as job displacement, potential for bias, and ethical concerns related to privacy and security.
Helped:
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AI can automate repetitive tasks, analyze data faster, and optimize processes, leading to significant improvements in productivity across various industries.
Improved Healthcare:
AI is being used in diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans, potentially leading to better patient outcomes.
Advanced Research:
AI tools can assist researchers in data collection, analysis, and even accelerate scientific discoveries.
Enhanced Accessibility:
AI can provide tools and services that make life easier for people with disabilities, such as assistive technologies and accessible interfaces.
Safer Workplaces:
AI-powered robots and automated systems can handle dangerous tasks, minimizing human exposure to risks.
Harmed:
Job Displacement:
Automation powered by AI can lead to job losses in various sectors, particularly those with routine tasks.
Bias and Discrimination:
AI algorithms can perpetuate and amplify existing societal biases, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes in areas like hiring, loan applications, and even law enforcement.
Privacy Concerns:
AI systems often collect and analyze vast amounts of personal data, raising concerns about privacy violations and misuse of information.
Ethical Dilemmas:
The development and deployment of AI raise complex ethical questions about accountability, transparency, and the potential for misuse.
Misinformation and Manipulation:
AI can be used to create deepfakes and spread misinformation, potentially impacting public opinion and social stability.
Dependence and Deskilling:
Over-reliance on AI in decision-making can lead to a decline in human critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Environmental Impact:
The energy consumption and resource requirements of AI systems, particularly in training large models, can contribute to environmental concerns.
Potential for Weaponization:
AI is being integrated into weapons systems, raising concerns about autonomous warfare and the potential for unintended consequences.
Overall, AI presents a double-edged sword. While it offers immense potential for progress and improvement, it also carries significant risks that need to be carefully addressed through responsible development, ethical guidelines, and robust regulation.