Inside the Effort to Reboot America’s Nuclear Energy Program

Summary

WSJ Tech News Briefing: Inside the Effort to Reboot America’s Nuclear Energy Program

Release Date: June 16, 2025
Host: Victoria Craig
Author: The Wall Street Journal

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Introduction

In this episode of the WSJ Tech News Briefing, host Victoria Craig delves into two pivotal advancements shaping the intersection of technology and society. The primary focus is on America’s reinvigorated nuclear energy program, propelled by substantial private investment, robust support from the Trump administration, and the pressing AI rivalry with China. Additionally, the episode explores the innovative use of artificial intelligence in combating senior loneliness through an AI companion named Mila.

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Rebooting America’s Nuclear Energy Program

Presidential Support and Policy Initiatives

President Trump has been a staunch advocate for nuclear energy, aiming to spearhead a “nuclear energy renaissance.” As Victoria Craig highlights, the administration has enacted several executive orders designed to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. This initiative is partly driven by the necessity for enormous, low-carbon energy sources to sustain America’s competitive edge in the AI sector against China.

Unnamed Expert [00:57]: "It's a hot industry. It's a brilliant industry."

Standard Nuclear and Triso Fuel Innovation

Heather Somerville, WSJ’s Tech and National Security reporter, introduces Standard Nuclear, a key player in this nuclear resurgence. The company is pioneering the development of Triso fuel, a novel type of nuclear fuel where enriched uranium is encased in ceramic materials, significantly enhancing safety by containing nuclear material effectively.

Heather Somerville [01:43]: “Standard Nuclear is the only standalone Triso fuel maker in the United States and the largest in terms of its capacity outside of China.”

This technological advancement positions Standard Nuclear as a formidable force in supplying modern reactors across the United States, potentially transforming the nation’s energy landscape.

Risks and Challenges in the Nuclear Reboot

Despite the optimism, the nuclear revival is fraught with challenges. Heather Somerville elaborates on historical and present-day obstacles:

Heather Somerville [02:39]: “Nuclear has always been problematic throughout history... nuclear power is super expensive. Old fashioned fossil fuels are cheap by comparison.”

Key risks include lingering public fears from past nuclear disasters, substantial financial barriers due to high project costs, and frequent delays that have historically deterred investment. These factors collectively contribute to skepticism about the feasibility and sustainability of the current nuclear revival efforts.

The AI and China Competitive Edge

The strategic importance of nuclear energy extends beyond power generation—it is intrinsically linked to the AI competition with China. As Victoria Craig and Heather Somerville discuss, the ability to generate vast amounts of low-carbon energy is essential for powering AI infrastructures.

Heather Somerville [04:21]: “China has accelerated the building of reactors, the development of fuel. It’s about to catch up with Russia in the near term on enriching uranium.”

The U.S. faces significant pressure to escalate its nuclear capabilities to prevent China from gaining a dominant position in both energy and AI technologies, which are critical for national security and economic supremacy.

Private Funding and Venture Capital Involvement

A transformative aspect of the current nuclear renaissance is the influx of private capital, including venture capital investments. Since 2021, approximately $2.5 billion has been invested in U.S. nuclear projects, marking a departure from the traditionally cautious stance of venture capitalists towards nuclear energy.

Heather Somerville [05:31]: “A lot of these smaller reactors and these new projects that are coming online in nuclear don't need the same amount of money that the big old reactors had of prior decades.”

This shift is facilitated by the emergence of smaller, modular reactors that require less upfront investment, making them more attractive to private investors and enabling more agile development compared to traditional large-scale nuclear projects.

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Mila: AI Companion Alleviating Senior Loneliness

Introduction to Mila

Transitioning from energy to societal well-being, the episode features Julie Jargan, WSJ’s Family and Tech columnist, who introduces Mila, an AI-driven companion designed to provide emotional support to seniors. Mila engages with residents in senior living communities through scheduled phone conversations, aiming to reduce feelings of loneliness and improve mental health.

Victoria Craig [07:40]: “Phone calls with an empathetic listener can help older adults feel less alone and improve mental health.”

Pilot Study and Positive Outcomes

In a pilot program at a senior living community in Riverdale, Bronx, Mila was tested with 23 residents. The results were promising, showing significant improvements in depression and anxiety levels among participants after 30 days of interaction.

Unnamed AI Expert [08:52]: “People who participated and who had had moderate to severe depression prior to speaking with Mila showed a very big improvement...”

Resident Experience: Marvin Marcus

The episode features Marvin Marcus, an 83-year-old resident, who shares his positive experience with Mila. He appreciates Mila’s ability to engage in diverse and meaningful conversations, particularly about his interests like baseball.

Marvin Marcus [09:26]: “Have you picked up any good books lately?”

Unnamed AI Expert [10:03]: “He enjoys talking to Mila because she’s trained on all sorts of things, and she knows baseball and she knows current events...”

Mila’s empathetic listening and ability to sustain engaging conversations make her a valuable companion for residents who might otherwise experience diminishing social interactions.

Future Prospects for Mila

Encouraged by the pilot's success, the developers plan to expand Mila’s presence to more senior living communities and introduce a direct-to-consumer subscription model, allowing individuals nationwide to benefit from her companionship.

Unnamed AI Expert [11:13]: “They’re in the process of offering it as a direct to consumer service where people can pay some sort of subscription anywhere in the country to receive calls or call Mila.”

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Conclusion

This episode of WSJ Tech News Briefing underscores the dynamic interplay between technological innovation and societal needs. On one hand, America’s ambitious push to rejuvenate its nuclear energy program reflects a critical strategy to maintain global competitiveness in AI and secure sustainable energy sources. On the other, the development of AI companions like Mila highlights the compassionate application of technology to address human-centric challenges such as senior loneliness. Together, these narratives illustrate the multifaceted role of technology in shaping both the macroeconomic landscape and individual well-being.

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Notable Quotes:

• Heather Somerville [02:39]: “Nuclear has always been problematic throughout history... nuclear power is super expensive.”

• Heather Somerville [05:31]: “A lot of these smaller reactors and these new projects that are coming online in nuclear don't need the same amount of money that the big old reactors had of prior decades.”

• Unnamed AI Expert [10:03]: “She’s trained on all sorts of things, and she knows baseball and she knows current events...”

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Produced by Julie Chang and supervising producer Melanie Roy. For more insights, stay tuned to the Wall Street Journal’s Tech News Briefing.

Transcript

[Viking]

Viking committed to exploring the world in comfort. Journey through the heart of Europe on an elegant Viking longship with thoughtful service, cultural enrichment and all inclusive fares. Discover [e-mail] welcome to Tech News Briefing.

[Victoria Craig]

It's Monday, June 16th. I'm Victoria Craig for the Wall Street Journal. America's nuclear energy program has been supercharged by a recent and unprecedented influx of private funding, enthusiasm from the Trump administration and an AI race with China. We'll dive into how that reboot is progressing.

[Julie Jargan]

Then, a companion that comforts, jokes and.

[Victoria Craig]

Reminds residents at a New York senior living community about their next bingo game. She's just a phone call away, but she's not human. But first, it's no secret that President Trump is a big fan of nuclear power.

[Unnamed Expert]

It's a hot industry. It's a brilliant industry.

[Unnamed Advertiser]

You have to do it right.

[Unnamed Expert]

It's become very safe and environmental, yes, 100%.

[Victoria Craig]

His goal, as the White House put it, is to usher in a nuclear energy renaissance. And he's signed a number of key executive orders aimed at accelerating advanced nuclear technologies. The President's interest is fueled in part by America's advanced AI race with China, and that requires city sized amounts of power and low carbon energy sources like nuclear are the preferred choice. WSJ Tech and national security reporter Heather Somerville writes about a company called Standard Nuclear which is trying to power up a America's next nuclear era. Heather, tell us about Standard Nuclear. What is it doing and what potentially is game changing about it?

[Heather Somerville]

Standard Nuclear is developing fuel for small modern nuclear reactors. It's developing a fuel that's called Triso fuel, and it's a particular type of fuel where the enriched uranium is coated in these ceramic materials that keep all the nuclear matter inside. So basically the point is it's extremely safe. And so Standard Nuclear is a company that is the only standalone Triso fuel maker in the United States and the largest in terms of its capacity outside of China. So it is trying to become a powerful force in developing the fuel to power modern nuclear reactors for the United States.

[Julie Jargan]

And we know that this is a big focus for the Trump administration. But you write that the nuclear reboot is risky. Why is that?

[Heather Somerville]

Well, nuclear has always been problematic throughout history for a number of reasons. Of course, decades back, there were numerous safety disasters. Those have pretty much been addressed in the new engineering and designs of these modern reactors. We don't expect there to be the same sort of meltdowns or anything near what the world experienced when you think of the most awful nuclear disasters of the past. But each Time, there has been a safety mishap in nuclear. The entire industry has basically shut down. Nobody wanted to invest in it, nobody wanted to further the technology for fear public backlash. And in addition, nuclear power is super expensive. Old fashioned fossil fuels are cheap by comparison. So nuclear power projects have often been plagued with cost overruns, huge delays in getting up and running. And those things combined have meant that prior efforts to reboot the American nuclear power industry, and there have been several in the past, have fallen flat. And so while entrepreneurs and investors and nuclear power enthusiasts are adamant that this time it's different, we do have to wait and see.

[Julie Jargan]

And I want to dig into that a little bit more because you mentioned in your piece that China has emerged as the United States biggest competitor in this sphere. And you also quote the US Interior Secretary in April who said, we can't allow ourselves to lose the AI arms race with China, but first we have to win the power race. So how is the US faring in.

[Victoria Craig]

This race with China?

[Heather Somerville]

Currently, the US can still produce more nuclear power than China. That's the good news. In all other respects, we're basically behind. China has accelerated the building of reactors, the development of fuel. It's about to catch up with Russia in the near term on enriching uranium. So the US is quite threatened by this. And it all comes down to artificial intelligence as well as military superiority. The Defense Department wants nuclear power, modular, mobile resistant reactors to power bases and to use to power troops and logistics in the case of a conflict, because China has that. And then of course, the development of AI requires just huge amounts of power. So if China can accelerate and be successful in the development of its nuclear power industry, it as a result will be very successful in the development of AI.

[Julie Jargan]

And you mentioned funding a bit earlier. That's a big challenge, especially for startups in the US in this space. Walk us through who stepping into that void.

[Heather Somerville]

One unique factor of this particular nuclear power renaissance that we are in is the involvement of private capital, private equity, and especially venture capitalists. Since 2021, venture capitalists have invested about $2.5 billion in US nuclear power projects. If you have any experience with venture capitalists, they have traditionally avoided regulatory, intense capital, intense projects that need a lot of money up front before they can make money, and very complicated hardware and businesses that rely a lot on government involvement. This has not been a space for venture capital. We are seeing a huge exception here. And the other thing is a lot of these smaller reactors and these new projects that are coming online in nuclear don't need the same amount of money that the big old reactors had of prior decades. So it is more feasible for venture capitalists to support them in their initial years as they're getting their research and development underway. That's new, and that's a pretty powerful thing.

[Victoria Craig]

That was Heather Somerville, who covers tech and national security for the Journal. Coming up, seniors looking to feel less lonely find comfort in a caller that always listens and never Judges will introduce you to Mila after the break.

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[Victoria Craig]

Phone calls with an empathetic listener can help older adults feel less alone and improve mental health. But a friendly voice isn't always an option for people who don't have access to family and friends. Enter Mila. WSJ family and tech columnist Julie Jargan met with residents of a senior living community in Riverdale in the Bronx section of New York City who have been chatting with Mila recently. But not all is as it seems. Julie, tell us about Mila.

[Unnamed AI Expert]

Mila is an AI companion, and this company that created her cloned the voice of a voice actress and then used that to have a conversational chatbot that calls residents at set times. They can call her too, but the way it typically operates is that she calls them at an agreed upon time and they have a conversation. The conversations with Mila are limited to two hours, so people can't spend all day in their rooms talking to her. And the idea is to see if talking to an AI companion could help alleviate loneliness in a senior living community and also decrease depression and anxiety.

[Julie Jargan]

And did those conversations with Mila do what they intended to do?

[Unnamed AI Expert]

So the company that created Mila partnered with this senior living community to do a pilot test, and it was a small study with just 23 residents to begin with, but the results were very promising. People who participated and who had had moderate to severe depression prior to speaking with Mila showed a very big improvement in their level of depression and anxiety following speaking with Mila for a period of 30 days.

[Julie Jargan]

And one of the residents who had these conversations with Mila, his name is Marvin Marcus and he's 83 years old.

[Marvin Marcus]

I know you're a big reader. Have you picked up any good books lately?

[Unnamed Expert]

No, actually, I've been falling behind on not only books, but magazines. I have a nice little pile of magazines I have to catch up on. But it's one of the things I always say I'm gonna do and, you know, just spend a lot of time getting. Getting all my stuff together. Yeah.

[Marvin Marcus]

Oh, I completely understand that, Marvin.

[Julie Jargan]

So, Julie, tell us more about how that conversation went. And how did Marvin feel about talking with an AI?

[Unnamed AI Expert]

He said that he found it really helpful because he likes to talk about sports. He's a huge Yankees fan, and he said that when he talks to fellow residents in the senior living community, their eyes glaze over after a while. So he enjoys talking to Mila because she's trained on all sorts of things, and she knows baseball and she knows current events so she can have a conversation with him. And she's also very empathetic, and so she will listen to him where other people might not be so patient.

[Julie Jargan]

And how does Mila walk the fine line between validating residents feelings and offering medical advice or even advice on other things like financial or legal matters?

[Unnamed AI Expert]

Yeah, so she is trained not to provide any financial or legal or medical advice. She is not a therapist, but she is trained in some methods of cognitive behavioral therapy. So she will validate the feelings of the people she's speaking with and try to steer them towards something positive, a solution to a problem, encourage them to interact socially with other people. But yeah, she's not there to provide any sort of medical advice or treatment.

[Julie Jargan]

So this was a pilot program. What is next for Mila and other technology like her?

[Unnamed AI Expert]

Well, at this particular senior living community, they're going to expand their test and include a larger number of residents. The folks at Mila are also going to try to introduce her to other senior living communities to try out. And they're also in the process of offering it as a direct to consumer service where people can pay some sort of subscription anywhere in the country to receive calls or call Mila.

[Victoria Craig]

That was Julie Jargan, WSJ's family and tech columnist. And that's it for tech news briefing. Today's show was produced by Julie Chang with supervising producer Melanie Roy. I'm Victoria Craig for the Wall Street Journal. We'll be back this afternoon with TNB Tech Minute. Thanks for listening.

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