Palantir lands $100M contract to build AI system for nuclear reactors

Palantir Technologies has partnered with Nuclear Company to develop an AI-driven software system designed to streamline nuclear reactor construction. The five-year, $100 million deal positions Palantir to capitalize on renewed interest in nuclear energy, driven by surging power demands from AI data centers and supportive federal policies under the Trump administration.

What you should know: The partnership will create a nuclear operating system (NOS) that simplifies construction processes, enabling faster and more cost-effective nuclear plant development.

• Nuclear Company, a Kentucky-based nuclear deployment firm, will pay Palantir approximately $100 million over five years to develop the platform.
• The collaboration comes as nuclear energy gains traction as a cleaner, more reliable alternative to wind and solar power.

The big picture: Nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance amid unprecedented power demand growth and favorable regulatory changes.

• U.S. power consumption is projected to reach record highs in 2025 and 2026 after nearly two decades of stagnation, primarily due to power-hungry AI data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations.
• President Trump’s executive orders signed in May aim to boost nuclear energy production by directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reduce regulations and fast-track new reactor licenses.

Policy landscape: Recent federal actions have created a more favorable environment for nuclear development.

• Trump’s tax and spending bill eliminated many green-energy subsidies while preserving nuclear energy tax credits.
• The regulatory push comes as the industry seeks to meet surging electricity demand from the expanding AI and data center sector.

Why this matters: The partnership reflects how AI companies are increasingly investing in nuclear infrastructure to secure reliable power sources for their operations, while traditional nuclear companies are leveraging AI to overcome construction challenges that have historically plagued the industry.