OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is leaving the board chair of fusion startup Helion amid reports that the two companies are in early talks for a power agreement. The potential deal could give OpenAI a share of Helion’s future production, which aims for five gigawatts by 2030 and 50 gigawatts by 2035. Helion, which raised $425 million last year, is developing a magnetic‑based reactor that directly converts fusion energy into electricity. Helion confirmed Altman's departure but did not comment on new customer agreements beyond existing deals with Microsoft and Nucor. Read more →

Helion, a fusion energy company backed by Sam Altman, is in early talks to supply electricity to OpenAI. The potential agreement could allocate a share of Helion's future output—estimated at several gigawatts by the early 2030s—to the AI firm. Helion’s approach uses magnetic conversion of fusion energy directly into electricity, a departure from traditional heat‑based methods. The company plans to scale rapidly, targeting hundreds of reactors that together could generate tens of gigawatts. Altman has stepped down from Helion’s board to facilitate the partnership, and Microsoft has already signed a similar power purchase agreement with Helion. Read more →