WSJ Tech News Briefing: AI and Nuclear Power and ‘Wizard of Oz,’ Oh My!
Released April 21, 2025

The Wall Street Journal’s Tech News Briefing hosted by Victoria Craig delves into the intriguing intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) with both classic cinema and the nuclear energy sector. This episode, titled "AI and Nuclear Power and ‘Wizard of Oz,’ Oh My!", explores how AI is revitalizing beloved cultural icons and modernizing critical infrastructure.

1. AI Transforms Classic Cinema: A 21st Century Makeover of The Wizard of Oz

Las Vegas Sphere’s Immersive Experience

The episode opens with an exciting development in the entertainment industry: the Las Vegas Sphere is set to offer audiences an immersive rendition of the 86-year-old classic film, The Wizard of Oz. Adapting such an iconic movie to a cutting-edge format posed significant challenges, requiring innovative technological solutions.

Technological Innovations with Google DeepMind

Isabel Bousquet, WSJ CIO Journal reporter, provides an exclusive look into the collaboration between the Las Vegas Sphere and Google DeepMind. The project leveraged AI in two primary ways:

1. Enhancing Resolution with Generative AI
   Bel Lin explains at [01:42]:
   “They essentially went really deep and used generative AI to generate new pixels. And that was a better way of enhancing the resolution there.”

   Instead of traditional pixel-based resolution enhancement, generative AI was employed to create new pixels, resulting in a superior visual upgrade suitable for the Sphere's massive 160,000-square-foot curved screen.

2. Expanding Scenes Through AI-Powered Outpainting
   Bel Lin continues at [01:42]:
   “They can see characters that were off screen in the past. This is a technique that they called out painting.”

   AI facilitated the expansion of original scenes, allowing a wider view that includes previously off-screen characters and broader backgrounds, such as the poppy fields and Emerald City crowds.

Reception and Industry Impact

While the technological advancements garnered excitement, they also sparked controversy:

• Audience Concerns:
  Bel Lin notes at [03:53]:
  “This film is so beloved. So when Google says AI has touched more than 90% of it, it gives a lot of anxiety.”

  Many fans felt uneasy about AI's extensive involvement, fearing that the sacredness of the original film might be compromised despite Google’s efforts to remain true to the source material.

• Hollywood’s Anxiety Over AI:
  The use of AI in such a cherished film has heightened fears within the acting and writing communities about the future implications of generative AI on creative intellectual property.

2. AI Fuels the Revival of Nuclear Power

AI Integration in Nuclear Plants

Shifting from entertainment to energy, the briefing highlights the U.S. Energy Department's initiative to incorporate AI into nuclear power operations. The focus is on an AI tool named Pro A, developed by Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois.

Enhancing Efficiency in Aging Nuclear Plants

Isabel Bousquet explains at [06:28]:
“This tool really kind of dovetails quite nicely because as AI is driving this immense great need for power, and particularly nuclear power, it's also arriving as sort of a way to help make these nuclear plants more efficient.”

Pro A addresses the outdated technology prevalent in many existing nuclear plants, which often resemble the analog setups from decades past. By automating and assisting with routine tasks, AI can significantly improve operational efficiency.

Functionality and Human-AI Collaboration

Pro A acts as an assistant rather than a replacer:

• Assisting Operators:
  At [07:44], Isabel states:
  “It's essentially acting as an assistant. ... meant to aid the work of an operator in a lot of the making sure that the flips and the switches are running green rather than running red.”

  The AI tool helps monitor systems and alerts operators to potential issues, such as overheating, allowing humans to make informed decisions based on AI's observations.

• Natural Language Processing for Troubleshooting:
  Isabel further elaborates at [09:02]:
  “Pro Aid's kind of the only one that is really harnessing LLMs, for instance, can assist with. ... you can sort of interrogate in plain English the way that you and I are chatting with the tool.”

  Leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs), Pro A enables operators to communicate with the AI in natural language, making troubleshooting more intuitive and accessible.

Implementation and Future Prospects

Pro A is already developed and ready for deployment. However, widespread adoption requires commercialization and partnerships with the private sector. The integration process varies:

• New vs. Existing Plants:
  Isabel mentions at [08:19]:
  “It's a bit of a combination of both. But it's a lot easier to add new technology to newer builds ... there’s also a hope that the existing nuclear plant providers will be wanting to upgrade their plants.”

  Modernizing existing plants with AI requires significant effort, whereas new plants can more seamlessly incorporate advanced technologies like Pro A from the outset.

Addressing Workforce Concerns

A senior nuclear engineer's perspective highlights that AI will not eliminate human roles but rather support them:

At [09:02], Isabel relays:
“If we can hand off some of those lower level capabilities to a machine, when someone retires, you don't need to replace him or her.”

This statement underscores AI’s role in taking over repetitive tasks, allowing human operators to focus on more complex responsibilities, thereby addressing workforce turnover without eliminating jobs.

Conclusion

This episode of Tech News Briefing underscores the dual role of AI in both preserving cultural heritage and advancing critical infrastructure. From transforming a classic film into an immersive spectacle to revolutionizing the operational efficiency of nuclear power plants, AI continues to shape diverse aspects of technology and society. However, these advancements also bring forth discussions about the preservation of legacy systems and the ethical implications of AI’s expanding presence in traditional domains.

Produced by Ariana Osperu with Deputy Editor Chris Insinsley. Additional production support from Julie Chang and Pierre Bienname.