International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi believes it is only a matter of time before nuclear power and artificial intelligence meet to power the future, noting that the digital revolution's survival and power needs depend on a massive surge in clean, uninterrupted energy sources.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Grossi addressed the imminent problem faced by global technological firms of generating enough power to support AI data centres, which consume vast amounts of electricity. He noted that annual demand for AI is now equivalent to that of a G7 country, adding that reliance on nuclear energy could be imperative to meet this need.
“AI is the engine of the future, but an engine without fuel is almost useless,” Grossi said. "Only nuclear energy can meet the five needs of low-carbon power generation, round-the-clock reliability, ultra-high power density, grid stability and true scalability”.
The IAEA chief went on to highlight the ongoing shift in how major tech players such as Google, Microsoft and Meta are 'knocking at the door nuclear'.
Rather than seeking information, these companies are now signing power purchase agreements and investing in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to power hyperscale computing campuses. He described SMRs as “nimble instruments of power generation' that can be deployed in remote areas far from traditional grids.
Apart from fueling data centres, Gross added that AI is strengthening the nuclear sector as well, through advanced anomaly detection, satellite image analysis and predictive maintenance, all of which have helped firms maintain and generate power through nuclear sources.
“Atoms for Algorithms,” he said about this marriage of nuclear energy and artificial intelligence, arguing that the industry is in a period of “epochal change".
READ MORE: Davos 2026: Ashwini Vaishnaw To Sunil Mittal — What India Inc Said On Domestic Growth Story
Watch LIVE TV, Get Stock Market Updates, Top Business, IPO and Latest News on NDTV Profit.
