However, the AI result is not the final decision, Wang said, adding that human review remains necessary.

　　His point is echoed across the site. Intelligent tools are being used to reduce blind spots and repetitive work, not to remove professional judgment from nuclear construction.

　　Additional project facilities are under construction. WANG YAJING/FOR CHINA DAILY

　　That principle is also visible on the fabrication side, where automation is changing welding work. Lei Yao, engineering deputy manager at China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Co's Lufeng project, said the nuclear island involves about 200,000 weld joints, of which about 160,000 are small-pipe welds.

　　Lei said the small-pipe welding workshop has introduced standardized fixtures, QR-code marking, digital traceability for materials, and robotic safety patrols. The fire-watch robot dog can help identify unsafe behavior and hidden risks, such as fire, heavy smoke, or workers at height who have not attached safety harnesses, he said.

　　The workshop's small-pipe autogenous welding technology is a key example. Compared with manual welding, the automatic process reduces dependence on highly experienced welders, improves stability and shortens welding time.

　　Lei said the workshop had some 60 workers when it started, including about 12 welders. After the automatic welding technology was put into use, the total number of workshop workers fell to around 30 to 35, with only about four welders needed to operate the autogenous welding facility.

　　A skilled manual welder may need three to five years of training to achieve a stable qualification rate for nuclear work, Lei said. With the automatic system, workers shift from direct welding to operating equipment and monitoring the process.