Rosatom Deploys AI Assistants at Nuclear Power Plants

Human-in-the-Loop Operations

Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom has begun implementing artificial intelligence systems at nuclear power plants. Experts emphasize that fully automated reactor control is not planned. Instead, AI functions strictly as an assistant to operators.

While an operator must monitor hundreds of parameters at once, the AI system analyzes incoming data streams and suggests appropriate actions, leaving final decisions to humans. Routine tasks are delegated to AI tools, including machine-vision systems that identify anomalies in video feeds—details that operators may miss under high workloads. This additional layer of analysis helps prevent overlooked warning signals.

AI is also being deployed as an advisory tool suitable for industrial workflows and corporate processes. According to Rosatom’s leadership, these assistant models are designed to operate entirely within the controlled production environment.

Safety Remains the Priority

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is actively engaged in developing regulatory approaches for AI in nuclear energy, and Rosatom participates in these global discussions.

“We support operators whose work involves monitoring and reacting to vast numbers of parameters. We build tools that help them. But we approach this very carefully, because safety remains the top priority. These systems should be seen as assistants and decision‑support tools, not as replacements for human actions.”

Evgeny Abakumov

Rosatom’s Director for Information and Digital Technologies

The new systems fall under the category of “weak AI,” focusing on data analytics and decision support rather than autonomous control. Creative and critical judgment remains the responsibility of human specialists, consistent with nuclear safety principles.

Digital Twins for Nuclear Facilities

In parallel, Rosatom is developing digital twins of industrial processes. One example is the VIZART‑RDM software suite, which simulates spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and radioactive‑waste management workflows.

Digital twins allow engineers to test new technologies in virtual environments before real‑world deployment, reducing risk and optimizing resource use. These tools complement the work of on‑site operators and help prevent emergency scenarios.

Practical Benefits for Operators

Plant operators gain access to a digital assistant that continuously tracks operational parameters and highlights critical deviations. Instead of monitoring every indicator manually, operators can focus on system alerts and recommendations, improving decision precision.

This reduces staff workload and minimizes the risk of human error—especially during night shifts, when fatigue is a known concern. At the same time, the system enhances the monitoring of equipment conditions.

Export Potential

Rosatom manages a large portfolio of international nuclear projects. Integrated AI‑assistant systems could be supplied as part of turnkey solutions for foreign nuclear power plants, strengthening the competitiveness of Russian technologies abroad.

In the coming years, AI functionality is expected to expand gradually: from operator support to partial automation of hazardous tasks, and eventually to semi‑autonomous operation in low‑risk scenarios—always with humans in the control loop.