AI and Cybersecurity Drive Transformation in Nuclear Operations

Advances in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are reshaping nuclear operations, with utilities and reactor developers integrating intelligent systems to enhance plant efficiency, predictive maintenance, and safety.

In the Philippines, AboitizPower has expanded its AI-driven “Project Arkanghel” initiative to coal plants in Luzon and Visayas, with future potential application to nuclear assets. The project employs digital twins, anomaly detection, and real-time asset health monitoring to optimize performance. AboitizPower President Celso Caballero III noted these tools improve fuel efficiency, extend maintenance cycles, and reduce unplanned outages.

Concurrently, new SMR designs are emerging as “digitally native” – equipped with advanced I&C (instrumentation and control) systems designed for high levels of automation and diagnostics. According to the Nuclear Energy Agency’s July 2025 SMR Dashboard, 127 technologies are currently being tracked, with 51 in licensing or pre-licensing stages. These designs reflect growing demand for agile, grid-compatible baseload options in Asia and beyond.

However, digitalization also introduces cybersecurity risks. The IAEA emphasizes the need to secure operational technology (OT) systems throughout the nuclear plant lifecycle. Guidelines highlight the importance of preventing cross-system interference and ensuring functional independence between safety-critical and digital components.

In tandem, licensing agencies are moving toward digital platforms, enabling “e-licensing” to streamline approval timelines. These digital-first approaches are seen as essential to accelerating deployment while maintaining regulatory rigor. As AI and industrial digitization advance, nuclear operators are positioning themselves at the intersection of energy reliability and cybersecurity resilience.

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Rex Sayson

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