How Can AI Help Unlock the Future of Fusion Energy?

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National LaboratoryApr 22, 2026

Why It Matters

By coupling AI with exascale simulation, Fusion FM could speed fusion reactor design, bringing commercial clean energy closer and strengthening national energy security.

Key Takeaways

  • Fusion FM builds AI foundation model for fusion research.
  • Uses exascale supercomputer Frontier for data generation and training.
  • Model trained on experimental and simulation data to aid scientists.
  • Project aligns with DOE’s Genesis mission integrating AI and supercomputing.
  • Expected to accelerate design of commercial fusion power plants.

Summary

The video introduces Fusion FM, a seed project under the DOE’s Genesis mission that aims to create a large‑scale AI foundation model for fusion energy research. Led by computational scientist Pa Jang at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the effort brings together Oak Ridge, PBP, and Argon to provide a shared AI tool for scientists and power‑plant designers.

Fusion FM relies on the exascale supercomputer Frontier, the first machine to breach the exascale barrier. Frontier supplies both the massive computational horsepower needed to train the AI model and the high‑fidelity physics simulations that generate the training data, a combination ordinary clusters cannot achieve.

Pa Jang explains that the model will be trained on a blend of experimental results and simulation outputs, enabling it to assist daily research tasks and accelerate the design of fusion reactors. She emphasizes that the Genesis platform unites world‑class supercomputers, AI expertise, and scientific knowledge to tackle national energy challenges.

If successful, the Fusion FM foundation model could dramatically shorten the path to commercial fusion power, lowering development costs and informing policy decisions. The initiative showcases how AI and exascale computing together can transform a strategic technology sector.

Original Description

ORNL computational scientist Pei Zhang shares how the Fusion-FM project is bringing together AI, high-performance computing, and fusion science to tackle some of the biggest challenges in energy.
Powered by systems like Frontier and supported through the Genesis Mission, this work combines cutting-edge computing with multidisciplinary expertise to move fusion research forward.
ORNL is using #BigScience to make a big impact. Learn more: https://www.ornl.gov/bigscience

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