MIT Professor Aims to Advance Nuclear Energy Through AI

MIT Professor Aims to Advance Nuclear Energy Through AI Dean Price is working to design safer, more economical nuclear reactors using machine learning techniques. Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:06am Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›An abstract illustration captures the intricate interplay of physical processes within a next-generation nuclear reactor, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to unlock new design possibilities.Urbana TodayDean Price, an MIT assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, is on a mission to help design and usher in a new class of nuclear reactors that build on the safety, economics, and reliability of the existing nuclear fleet. He is exploring the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve the design and operation of advanced nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors and microreactors. Why it matters Nuclear energy currently provides nearly 20% of the United States' electricity, but Price believes the country needs to do much more to harness nuclear power as an alternative to fossil fuels. By advancing nuclear technology through AI, Price aims to make nuclear energy a more viable and attractive option for carbon-free power generation. The details Price's research focuses on multiphysics modeling, which looks at how various physical processes in a nuclear reactor core, such as neutronics and thermal hydraulics, interact. He is exploring ways to use AI and machine learning to bypas...