ML25269A196
| ML25269A196 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/26/2025 |
| From: | Scott Flanders NRC/OCIO/DIME |
| To: | |
| Mensah T | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML25097A285 | List: |
| References | |
| SRM-LTR-25-0153-1-OCIO | |
| Download: ML25269A196 (11) | |
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Per Executive Order 14179 Removing Barriers To American Leadership In Artificial Intelligence Prepared And Issued By Scott Flanders, NRC CIO And CAIO US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
FY26 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGIC PLAN
A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF AI OFFICER US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 2 I am pleased to present the Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Strategy for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
This strategy is designed to enable continuous evaluation and improvement of the agencys AI operating model to ensure that the application of artificial intelligence capabilities leverages the right data, technical infrastructure, governance, workforce, and literacy. This strategy also positions the agency to leverage modern technologies in carrying out its mission to "protect public health and safety and advance the nations common defense and security by enabling the safe and secure use and deployment of civilian nuclear energy technologies and radioactive materials through efficient and reliable licensing, oversight, and regulation for the benefit of society and the environment."
The NRC's AI Strategy provides a common vision and a set of strategic goals that set the foundation for collaboration across the enterprise in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of agency processes through the application of artificial intelligence capabilities. This collaboration enables the NRC to strategically leverage its resources to enable responsible and ethical use of AI in carrying out its mission. Technological advancements made in this area provide new opportunities for the agency to expedite access to insights from historical and new information in a fashion that can be used to streamline workflows and create efficiencies at an enterprise level.
As the NRC's Chief AI Officer, I am committed to engaging my NRC mission, mission support, and corporate support counterparts in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities to use AI to achieve desired strategic outcomes. The NRC AI Strategy will provide a common framework for consistently improving the agency's ability to seize upon these opportunities in a comprehensive and collaborative fashion. As such, the NRC AI Strategy will describe how the agency plans to incorporate its workforce, its processes, its technology, and its stakeholders in the continued advancement of the agency mission through the effective use of modern technology.
Scott Flanders Chief AI Officer Chief Information Officer
TABLE OF CONTENTS US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 3 Introduction & Vision Page 4 Strategic Goals & Objectives Page 5 AI Use Cases Page 6 Maturity Goals Page 7 Next Steps Page 11
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 4 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is committed to responsibly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its regulatory mission: to protect public health and safety and advance the nations common defense and security. This AI Strategic Plan establishes a comprehensive approach to adopting, governing, and scaling AI capabilities, ensuring that technological advancements directly support efficient, risk-informed, and reliable regulatory outcomes.
This plan articulates a clear vision for AIs role at the NRC, sets forth strategic goals and aligned objectives, describes the agencys current and future states of AI maturity, and details the activities and key performance indicators (KPIs) that will guide progress over the coming years.
INTRODUCTION
& VISION GOALS &
OBJECTIVES AI USE CASES MATURITY GOALS NEXT STEPS VISION To responsibly leverage artificial intelligence in support of the NRCs mission, empowering staff to efficiently make risk-informed decisions, drive regulatory innovation, and protect public health, safety, and the environment. AI directly supports the NRCs mission by:
Enhancing Decision Making Increasing Efficiency Strengthening Regulatory Oversight Supporting Public Confidence Fostering Innovation Providing timely, data-driven insights to help staff make more informed, risk-informed regulatory decisions and respond to emerging challenges.
Identifying patterns, trends, and potential issues, enabling staff to proactively address safety, security, and compliance risks.
Automating routine and complex tasks such as document review, data analysis, and project management, freeing staff to focus on higher-value oversight, inspection, and research activities.
Empowering staff with modern tools and continuous learning to stay ahead of technological change and evolving regulatory needs.
Improving accuracy, transparency, and responsiveness to strengthen the NRCs credibility and public trust in its regulatory processes.
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 5 INTRODUCTION
& VISION GOALS &
OBJECTIVES Enhance NRC Staff Productivity and Operational Efficiency Objective 1.1: Accelerate AI adoption through prioritized, mission-aligned use cases.
Objective 1.2: Ensure robust infrastructure, high-quality data, strong cybersecurity, and a skilled workforce underpin all AI activities.
Empower NRC Staff for AI Integration Objective 2.1: Foster a workforce ready to adopt and integrate AI tools that enhance productivity and streamline operations.
Objective 2.2: Provide training, resources, and support to ensure staff can confidently and responsibly apply AI in daily workflows and decision-making.
Build a Sustainable AI Ecosystem Objective 3.1: Ensure robust infrastructure, high-quality data, strong cybersecurity, and a skilled workforce underpin all AI activities.
Objective 3.2: Establish long-term workforce development strategies that align AI skill-building with evolving organizational needs and technology trends.
1 2
3 AI USE CASES MATURITY GOALS NEXT STEPS
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 6 AI USE CASES The NRC has identified a set of high-impact AI use cases that are either actively being implemented or under development to meet the evolving needs of the agencys mission. These use cases reflect the agencys commitment to advancing the safe, effective, and responsible use of AI across regulatory and operational platforms.
By proactively exploring and supporting these applications, the NRC is positioning itself to leverage AI technologies that enhance safety, improve efficiency, and enable innovation within a robust regulatory framework.
INTRODUCTION
& VISION MATURITY GOALS NEXT STEPS GOALS &
OBJECTIVES AI in Action: Use Cases and Pilots Regulation in Action: Where AI Adds Value NRC Mission Functions AI Use Cases Generative AI
- Review Power Uprates applications, License Renewal
- Advanced Reactors Nth of a Kind reviews, Fuel Management, Rulemaking support, Environmental Reviews
- Inspection preparation.
Increasing Productivity
- Summarizing transcripts from meetings to create action items,
- Generating first draft documents,
- Reviewing emails to prioritize work.
Leveraging Frontier Large Language Models
- International Trip Report Summaries
- Office of Congressional Affairs summaries from hearings, creation of Question and Answers.
Regulations and Guidance
- Rulemaking
- Guidance Development
- Generic Communications
- Standards Development Regulatory Milestones
- Licensing
- Decommissioning
- Certification
- Inspection
- Assessment of Performance
- Enforcement
- Allegations
- Investigations
- Incident
Response
Operational Experience
- Events Assessment
- Generic Issues Support for Decisions
- Research Activities
- Risk Assessment
- Performance Assessment
- Advisory Committee Activities
- Adjudication Oversight
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 7 INTRODUCTION
& VISION MATURITY GOALS Current and Future AI Maturity Goals The NRC is committed to building enterprise-wide capacity for responsible and effective AI adoption. This includes strengthening infrastructure, improving data readiness, developing a skilled workforce, and implementing robust governance and risk management practices.
The following subsections describe the current state and future plans across six key maturity areas.
NEXT STEPS AI USE CASES GOALS &
OBJECTIVES Experimenting Planning Stabilizing Scaling Optimized State of NRC AI Maturity Resource Tracking &
Planning AI-Ready Workforce AI-Enabling Infrastructure Data Governance and Risk Management Research &
Development
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 8 The GSA Centers of Excellence (CoE) supported NRCs AI goals by aligning the right expertise at the right time to deliver sustainable, human-centered outcomes. Through a structured project plan, the CoE managed timelines, risks, and financials while delivering a maturity assessment and future-state roadmap. Focus areas include AI opportunity identification, governance and ethics, workforce upskilling, ecosystem development, and performance-enhancing capabilities.
To achieve these goals and objectives, the NRC must advance from its current foundational state to a mature, enterprise-wide AI ecosystem. The following sections describe the baseline, aspirational future state, and the activities that will drive progress.
4.1 Current State AI-Enabling Infrastructure: Foundational environments for AI development and testing exist, but scaling and integration are ongoing.
Data: The NRC leverages quality, traceable datasets (e.g., ADAMS, EDW) but seeks greater centralization and traceability.
AI-Ready Workforce: Multi-tiered learning, initial talent pipelines, and broad efforts to promote AI literacy are underway.
Governance and Risk Management:
Developing policies and procedures; initial risk management, training, and monitoring are in place.
Research and Development: Pilots for AI solutions in productivity and knowledge management are active to inform prioritization of use cases for implementation, though dedicated R&D funding is not established.
Resource Tracking and Planning: AI investments are tracked by OCIO; a formalized, agency-wide framework is in development.
4.2 Future State AI-Enabling Infrastructure: Enhanced, scalable, cloud-based AI infrastructure supporting continuous monitoring and deployment.
Data: Centralized data catalog; robust data quality, explainability, and interagency collaboration.
AI-Ready Workforce: Expanded talent pipelines, personalized and advanced learning, leadership opportunities, and institutionalized AI literacy.
Governance and Risk Management:
Comprehensive AI Governance Framework, expanded risk assessments, strong cross-functional coordination, and continuous improvement.
Research and Development: Broad, formalized pilot programs for prioritization of use cases for implementation; established innovation pathways; responsible AI principles embedded.
Resource Tracking and Planning:
Centralized AI resource tracking, integrated capital planning, standardized evaluation criteria, and proactive monitoring INTRODUCTION
& VISION MATURITY GOALS NEXT STEPS AI USE CASES GOALS &
OBJECTIVES
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 9 Activities Mapped to Maturity and Objectives To move from the current to the desired future state and achieve the stated goals and objectives, the NRC will execute the following key activities. Each activity is aligned to the relevant maturity area and objectives.
Action Key Activities Goal / Objective Alignment Future State Maturity Identify and Prioritize AI Use Cases Transparently review and approve new AI use cases based on mission relevance and risk.
Maintain and update an AI use case inventory.
Focus implementation on high-value opportunities.
Goal 1 /
Objective 1.1 Research and Development, Governance and Risk Management Deploy and Integrate AI Tools Pilot and scale tools for staff productivity, document review, inspection planning, and legislative research.
Develop custom AI solutions for specialized functions such as advanced reactor reviews and inspection cross-qualification.
Automate repeatable documentation tasks and enhance knowledge management.
Goal 1 /
Objectives 1.1, 1.2 Goal 3 /
Objective 3.1 AI-Enabling Infrastructure, Research and Development Enhance AI Governance Expand NRC AI Governance Framework with clear roles, responsibilities, and oversight.
Refine AI Governance Board prioritization guidelines Integrate risk management and compliance using the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and ensure alignment with Federal/NRC standards.
Regularly review and update governance policies to address emerging technologies and risks.
Goal 3 /
Objective 3.1 Governance and Risk Management INTRODUCTION
& VISION MATURITY GOALS NEXT STEPS AI USE CASES GOALS &
OBJECTIVES
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 10 Activities Mapped to Maturity and Objectives (Continued)
Action Key Activities Goal / Objective Alignment Future State Maturity Enhance IT Infrastructure for AI Modernize and scale computational resources and storage for AI workloads.
Integrate AI tools with NRCs legacy and modern IT systems.
Implement scalable cloud and hybrid environments.
Develop robust DevOps pipelines for AI development and deployment.
Goal 1 / Objective 1.2 Goal 3 / Objective 3.1 AI-Enabling Infrastructure Strengthen Data Readiness Establish rigorous data validation and verification protocols.
Continuously monitor data quality and automate alerts for anomalies.
Enforce metadata, annotation, and labeling standards.
Assign data stewards, conduct bias/fairness reviews, and maintain a centralized data repository.
Curate high value data sets.
Goal 1 / Objective 1.2 Goal 3 / Objective 3.1 Data Fortify IT Cybersecurity for AI Integrate AI systems into NRCs cybersecurity program.
Apply AI-specific threat modeling and penetration testing.
Ensure end-to-end data encryption, access controls, and monitoring.
Provide AI-specific cybersecurity training for staff.
Goal 1 / Objective 1.2 Goal 3 / Objective 3.1 AI-Enabling Infrastructure, Governance and Risk Management Accelerate AI Adoption and Training Deliver foundational and advanced AI training for staff.
Offer hands-on workshops and support resources for AI tool adoption.
Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing.
Goal 2 / Objective 2.1 Goal 3 / Objective 3.2 AI-Ready Workforce INTRODUCTION
& VISION MATURITY GOALS NEXT STEPS AI USE CASES GOALS &
OBJECTIVES
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission FY26 AI Strategic Plan Page 11 MATURITY GOALS NEXT STEPS Key Goals and Metrics for Success To ensure accountability and demonstrate progress, key performance indicators (KPIs) will be established for each strategic goal. These measures will provide clear benchmarks for tracking advancement, enable timely adjustments through ongoing governance, and ensure transparency in communicating outcomes to both internal and external stakeholders. Regular review of KPIs will help maintain alignment with the strategic vision and reinforce the NRCs commitment to responsible and effective AI adoption.
The NRCs AI Strategic Plan is a living document. As the agency advances in AI maturity, lessons learned and technological developments will inform updates to objectives, activities, and KPIs. This approach ensures that the NRC not only keeps pace with technological change but continues to fulfill its regulatory mission with the highest standards of independence, openness, efficiency, clarity, and reliability.
INTRODUCTION
& VISION NEXT STEPS AI USE CASES GOALS &
OBJECTIVES MATURITY GOALS Productivity (Goal 1)
Use Case Adoption (Goal 1)
Workforce (Goal 2, 3)
Data Readiness (Goal 3)
Governance (Goal 3)
Innovation (Goal 1, 3)
Public Confidence (All Goals)