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AI exposure Architecture and engineering

Will AI replace nuclear engineers?

Nuclear Engineers. US occupation 17-2161.

0.0%

of the time nuclear engineers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of nuclear engineers' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for nuclear engineersWhat nuclear engineers no longer do alone

O*NET lists 20 tasks for nuclear engineers. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

20 of the 20 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Conduct environmental studies on topics such as nuclear power generation, nuclear waste disposal, or nuclear weapon deployment.Core task
  • Conduct tests of nuclear fuel behavior and cycles or performance of nuclear machinery and equipment to optimize performance of existing plants.Core task
  • Consult with other scientists to determine parameters of experimentation or suitability of analytical models.Core task
  • Design fuel cycle models or processes to reduce the quantity of radioactive waste generated from nuclear activities.Core task
  • Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.Core task
  • Design or direct nuclear research projects to develop, test, modify, or discover new uses for theoretical models.Core task
Show the other 14
  • Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.Core task
  • Develop or contribute to the development of plans to remediate or restore environments affected by nuclear radiation, such as waste disposal sites.Core task
  • Direct environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.Core task
  • Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.Core task
  • Discuss construction project proposals with interested parties, such as vendors, contractors, or nuclear facility review boards.Core task
  • Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.Core task
  • Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.Core task
  • Keep abreast of developments and changes in the nuclear field by reading technical journals or by independent study and research.Core task
  • Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.Core task
  • Perform experiments that will provide information about acceptable methods of nuclear material usage, nuclear fuel reclamation, or waste disposal.Core task
  • Prepare environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies.Core task
  • Prepare technical reports of findings or recommendations, based on synthesized analyses of test results.Core task
  • Recommend preventive measures to be taken in the handling of nuclear technology, based on data obtained from operations monitoring or from evaluation of test results.Core task
  • Write operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.Core task

How that compares

Among the 34 architecture and engineering occupations, nuclear engineers rank 32. The group averages 3.8%, and its most exposed job is Computer Hardware Engineers at 14.5%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Musicians and Singers 0.0%
  2. 346Neurologists 0.0%
  3. 346New Accounts Clerks 0.0%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.