Artificial intelligence is transforming society at an unprecedented speed. Since the arrival of ChatGPT in late 2022, millions of people have incorporated this technology into their daily routines, using it for tasks as varied as drafting emails, creating images for creative projects, programming, or analyzing large volumes of data. Due to its versatility, AI has earned the nickname "digital Swiss army knife." In just three years of mass access, it is estimated that over 1.2 billion users have employed artificial intelligence tools, surpassing the adoption rate of technologies like the Internet, personal computers, or smartphones, according to the AI Diffusion Report from the Microsoft AI Economy Institute. Although most users access AI for free, the real cost falls on companies, as the operation and training of these systems require enormous amounts of energy, especially electricity. This demand has prompted major tech companies to invest in alternative sources, such as nuclear energy, and has brought attention to companies like TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates. TerraPower, based in Bellevue, Washington, is dedicated to developing advanced nuclear reactors and clean energy solutions. Among its projects is Natrium, a sodium-cooled reactor with energy storage, as well as the traveling wave reactor (TWR), both focused on improving efficiency and reducing nuclear waste. TerraPower's mission is to provide safe, abundant, and low-carbon electricity in response to the growing energy demand driven by AI and the inadequacy of the conventional power grid to meet these needs. Currently, the company is building its first Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, valued at $10 billion and capable of generating 345 megawatts. However, the acceleration in the approval of its construction has raised concerns among the U.S. scientific community. The Union of Concerned Scientists has pointed out that the safety review, initially scheduled for August 2026, was moved up several months due to political pressures from Congress and the White House, allowing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue its assessment nine months earlier than planned. This advancement responds to the 18-month deadline set by Executive Order 14300 from former President Donald Trump, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Dr. Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear safety for the organization, warns that this rush could compromise public and environmental safety, as the expedited review may have overlooked critical issues or postponed their analysis until the operational phase, when it would be difficult to correct them. Lyman emphasizes that the use of liquid sodium as a coolant poses fire risks and that the reactor design presents instabilities that could lead to uncontrolled power increases, damaging the nuclear fuel. Additionally, he criticizes that the approved design lacks a traditional physical containment structure to prevent the release of radioactive material in the event of an accident, relying instead on a "functional containment" proposed by TerraPower. The NRC's assessment concluded that there are no safety obstacles to granting the construction permit, although doubts remain about protection against potential incidents. Source: nationalgeographic.com.es