US-based nuclear technology firm Oklo and the Battelle Energy Alliance, the management and operating contractor for the Idaho National Laboratory, have entered a strategic partnership project to integrate artificial intelligence into the design of advanced nuclear reactors and fuel systems.

Oklo is currently developing fast fission power plants to provide energy and establish a domestic supply chain for critical isotopes. The company is also advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert used fuel into energy.

Notably, Oklo was the first organization to receive a site use permit from the Department of Energy for a commercial advanced fission plant. It has been awarded fuel from the Idaho National Laboratory and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The latest project focuses on using the Prometheus AI platform to automate engineering workflows, modeling, and simulation. By integrating this AI with Oklo’s existing multiphysics design infrastructure, the partners aim to increase efficiency in technical documentation and the overall reactor design process.

“This work brings together advanced reactor design, AI-enabled engineering tools, and INL’s deep technical expertise,” said Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo, in a press release.

To be applied to Pluto

This technology will be applied to the development of Pluto, an Oklo reactor system designed to utilize plutonium-bearing fuels as part of the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program.

The project is conducted under the National Nuclear Security Administration’s partnership framework, which provides access to specialized expertise and facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory.

The technical scope involves creating AI agents that can interact with multiphysics workflows to execute and monitor design pipelines. These agents are designed to process engineering results and generate compliant technical documentation.

Throughout the development process, a human operator will remain involved to provide oversight, review results, and make final decisions. The project also includes the development of technical guidance for model setup and strategies for benchmarking and validation to ensure the accuracy of the designs.

“Applying AI to reactor design workflows can accelerate development, improve engineering efficiency, and support progress on advanced systems, including on Oklo’s Pluto reactor,” added DeWitte.

Component of Genesis Mission

This collaboration is a component of the Genesis Mission, a national initiative intended to apply artificial intelligence to scientific discovery and innovation.

“This work will progress the Genesis Mission, a national initiative to unleash a new age of AI-accelerated innovation and discovery, and reflects Oklo’s broader focus on advancing both reactor design capabilities and fuel-related work through collaboration with leading national laboratory partners,” noted the press release.

“By leveraging AI-enabled technologies, national laboratory expertise, and industry collaboration, we are accelerating the development of next-generation reactors to support our nation’s energy goals,” concluded Rian Bahran, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Reactors at the US Department of Energy.

This partnership with the Battelle Energy Alliance represents a continuation of Oklo’s focus on advancing reactor design and fuel-related work through collaboration with national laboratory partners. The use of AI tools in this project is intended to streamline the development of advanced nuclear technologies for eventual commercial use.