Challenges and opportunities for AI to help deliver fusion energy

arXiv cs.AI / 3/30/2026

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Key Points

The article argues that AI could meaningfully accelerate fusion energy R&D, but achieving benefits requires addressing AI-specific limitations and risks.
It emphasizes that responsible, robust AI methodologies should be integrated into existing fusion research workflows rather than treated as an add-on.
The piece stresses the need for close, long-term collaboration between fusion domain experts and AI developers, alongside clear recognition that some fusion problems may not be well-suited to AI approaches.
It is based on an April 2025 round table at The Economist FusionFest, bringing together academia, industry, UKAEA, and STFC to discuss AI use cases for advancing fusion technology.

Abstract

There is great potential for the application of AI tools in fusion research, and substantial worldwide benefit if fusion power is realised. However, using AI comes with its own challenges, many of which can be mitigated if responsible and robust methodologies are built into existing approaches. To do that requires close, long-term collaborations between fusion domain experts and AI developers and awareness of the fact that not all problems in fusion research are best tackled with AI tools. In April 2025, experts from academia, industry, UKAEA and STFC discussed how AI can be used to advance R&D in fusion energy at the first edition of The Economist FusionFest event. This Perspective is an expanded and updated summary of the round table discussion, providing more context and examples.