Towards an AI Observatory for the Nuclear Sector: A tool for anticipatory governance
This work tackles governance challenges for AI in the nuclear sector, but it is incremental as it builds on existing fields like science and technology studies without introducing new technical methods.
The paper addresses the insufficient understanding of safety, security, and safeguards implications of AI integration in the nuclear sector by proposing the creation of a global AI observatory and anticipatory governance system, drawing on interdisciplinary studies to outline their design.
AI models are rapidly becoming embedded in all aspects of nuclear energy research and work but the safety, security, and safeguards consequences of this embedding are not well understood. In this paper, we call for the creation of an anticipatory system of governance for AI in the nuclear sector as well as the creation of a global AI observatory as a means for operationalizing anticipatory governance. The paper explores the contours of the nuclear AI observatory and an anticipatory system of governance by drawing on work in science and technology studies, public policy, and foresight studies.