A Clear View of Where Global Nuclear Leaders Are Heading

In December 2025, the IAEA held its first global symposium on AI and Nuclear Energy, bringing together operators, regulators, national labs, ministries, and SMR developers. RTS attended every session and consolidated the most important insights into this concise Special Report.

This brief highlights the global signals that will shape nuclear strategy, regulation, supply-chain planning, and workforce development in 2026 and beyond.

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This research brief explores:

• Why AI’s exponential energy demand has fundamentally changed the nuclear value proposition

• How SMRs and large reactors are being positioned to support AI-driven infrastructure

• National strategies from the U.S., China, France, Russia, and Argentina

• The role of nuclear power in data-center deployment and grid stability

• Supply-chain constraints that threaten deployment timelines

• Policy, financing, and licensing challenges that will define success or failure

The analysis is grounded in direct insights shared at the IAEA Symposium and translated into clear implications for decision-makers.

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Why It Matters

Electricity demand driven by AI is accelerating faster than grid infrastructure can adapt. Nuclear energy is emerging as the only scalable, reliable, and low-carbon solution capable of meeting that demand.

However, success is not guaranteed.

Without coordinated policy, modernized supply chains, and realistic deployment strategies, the gap between ambition and execution will widen. This report provides leaders with a clear-eyed view of what must change and where focus is required.

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