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Altman exits Helion board amid OpenAI fusion talks
23 Mar
Summary
- Sam Altman resigned from Helion's board chair position.
- OpenAI could secure 12.5% of Helion's fusion energy production.
- Helion plans to build thousands of reactors by 2035.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has resigned from his role as board chair at Helion, a fusion energy startup. This change coincides with reported discussions for a potential partnership between OpenAI and Helion, which could secure OpenAI 12.5% of Helion's energy production by 2030 and 2035. Helion's ambitious plans involve building 800 reactors by 2030 and an additional 7,200 by 2035 to achieve its production goals.
While Helion has not confirmed these talks, the company acknowledged Altman's departure from its board, stating it allows for future collaboration to deliver zero-carbon electricity. Helion is working to develop its first commercial-scale reactor, utilizing a unique magnetic confinement design to convert fusion energy directly into electricity. In February, its Polaris prototype achieved temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius, nearing its target for commercial operations.
