Large-scale infrastructures, such as chemical plants and nuclear power plants (NPPs), are pivotal for modern civilization as

they provide vital resources and energy. However, their operation introduces signifi cant risks, as demonstrated by the tragic

accidents at Bhopal and Fukushima. While extensive research has been conducted to improve the safety of these safety–

critical systems, the human factor remains as a signifi cant concern. In recent years, as artifi cial intelligence (AI) is being

widely adopted in various fi elds, AI may be a solution for supporting operators and, ultimately, for reducing the overall risk

of safety–critical systems such nuclear and chemical plants. This review discusses the application of AI in NPP operations,

with a focus on event diagnosis, signal validation, prediction, and autonomous control. Various application examples are

presented, highlighting the limitations of classical approaches and the potential for AI overcome such limitations to enhance

the safety and effi ciency of NPP operations. This work is expected to stimulate further investigation into the application of

AI to support operators in not only NPPs but also other safety–critical systems, such as chemical plants.