The US government’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and technology giant Microsoft have announced a collaboration to use Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to streamline the nuclear permitting and licensing application process.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy provided funding for the project, INL said in a statement.

INL will use a Microsoft-developed AI solution to generate engineering and safety analysis reports, which are standard reports submitted as a part of applications for construction permits and operating licences for nuclear power plants.