OpenAI Targets Fusion Power Deal With Helion as Energy Demand Explodes

OpenAI is negotiating to secure 5 gigawatts of electricity from Helion Energy by 2030, with the potential to scale to 50 gigawatts by 2035. The artificial intelligence giant’s talks with the nuclear fusion startup come as AI model training and data center operations drive unprecedented electricity demand across the tech sector. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stepped down as Helion’s board chair and recused himself from negotiations to avoid conflicts of interest—a move mirroring his withdrawal from discussions at nuclear startup Oklo last year. The proposed deal would make Helion one of OpenAI’s primary energy suppliers, positioning fusion technology as a cornerstone of future AI infrastructure. Fusion’s promise of clean, near-limitless power could solve the energy bottleneck threatening AI expansion, though Helion’s technology remains in development. Industry analysts note that securing such massive power capacity years in advance signals OpenAI’s aggressive growth projections and the sector’s escalating energy needs.