Considerations of emerging challenges in AI-based education and training, in the nuclear industry

Abstract

There is very little doubt that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will increasingly permeate the Canadian and global nuclear sectors in increments of 5-years, if not continuously. Already in 2024, there is ample evidence of “point solutions” in various parts of the nuclear sector and its supply chain, if not throughout all the national and global business sectors. One caveat since the paradigm of safety-in-operations remains unchanged with disruption caused by applications of AI, is the fact we operate in this “in-between” phase where both the pre-AI systems and practices, and emerging AI-inclusive systems co-currently operate. This holds true for nuclear education and training, not only in degree programs (new hires) but also “beyond the degree”, wherein early to mid-career professionals seek additional skills and competencies. In this work, we consider and present, the impact of AI on nuclear education and training, in terms of scenarios – each with a probability of occurrence. Based on evidence, some limited data to date, the co-authors will describe both the pros and cons of our current status-quo, and the likely paths to anticipate because paradigm shifting change will only occur in some business sectors that are both willing (championed), of sufficient scale and/or anticipate sufficient revenue to implement system-wide change.