Amazon and Google are investing in small modular reactors to power their AI operations and reduce carbon emissions. The tech giants aim to leverage nuclear energy as a reliable, carbon-free power source to meet the growing energy demands of AI technologies.

In an exclusive interview, the CEO explained the upsides and downsides of Big Tech investments in nuclear power.

Nuclear energy could be the long-term solution for the energy demands of AI. In the short-term, though, AI companies may turn to oil and gas.

Microsoft, Amazon and Google have all struck deals this year with developers of atomic power, which they argue can provide the reliable 24-hour low-carbon energy to power their data centres — and keep their valuations soaring on the strength of their AI ambitions.

That’s the message from Westinghouse Electric Co., the Cranberry Township-based firm that last year became the first company to design and build a new domestic nuclear reactor — actually two right next to each other – in more than 30 years with its AP1000 reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia.

The topic of energy is rapidly becoming central to the conversation around AI. AI is increasingly helping power suppliers deal with its own increasing demand.

The NANO Nuclear-Everstar collaboration, which was announced in July 2024, has already produced an advanced AI-driven compliance solution, designed to simplify and streamline NANO’s regulatory processes, marking an important step forward in both companies’ commitment to efficiency and safety in nuclear power.

In the US, demand for power from AI data centers is skyrocketing, driven by the intensive computational requirements of its models. Will it let up?

Major technological corporations, such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, are investing significantly in nuclear energy to fulfil AI Goals

Boisseau: You still need to know your business problems, though. You need to have enough AI literacy at your executive level, so you know where AI could be useful in solving them. Consultants could help with this for sure, but your long-term goal is to have that expertise in-house, right?

Nuclear energy is seen as a cleaner and carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels, with small nuclear reactors providing safe and round-the-clock power.

NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE) announced the successful three-month pilot project aimed at addressing regulatory challenges in the nuclear sector