OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Monday that he has left the board of Helion Energy, the fusion startup he has supported since 2015, as the two companies begin exploring a large-scale partnership.
Altman, who is also on OpenAI’s board, said holding both roles was no longer practical as OpenAI considers future partnerships with Helion. In a post on X, he said he will keep a financial interest in Helion but step aside from any deal talks.
“Sam has been key to Helion’s growth… I look forward to working with him in this new role,” Helion CEO David Kirtley said in a separate X post.
Axios reported Monday that OpenAI is also in advanced talks to buy electricity from Helion, citing a source familiar with the matter.
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OpenAI is in advanced talks to buy electricity from Helion Energy, Axios reported, citing a source. Under the potential deal OpenAI could secure a guaranteed 12.5% share of Helion’s production, aiming to reach 5 gigawatts by 2030 and 50 gigawatts by 2035.
OpenAI has not commented, and a Helion spokesperson said the company has made no new customer announcements beyond deals with Microsoft and Nucor.
The talks come as major tech companies race to secure long-term energy supplies to meet growing AI power demands. Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have all made deals with nuclear and fusion companies that would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago.
Helion, founded in 2013 by David Kirtley, John Slough, Chris Pihl, and George Votroubek, has raised over $1 billion, including a $425 million Series F in January 2025 that valued it at $5.4 billion.
Altman, also on OpenAI’s board, said holding both roles was no longer practical as OpenAI considers partnerships with Helion. He added on X that he will keep a financial interest in Helion but step aside from any deal negotiations. Helion CEO David Kirtley said, “Sam has played an integral role in Helion’s development…
Last year, Altman resigned as board chair of Oklo, a small nuclear reactor startup that merged with his company AltC. “The move lets Oklo explore partnerships with top AI companies, including possibly OpenAI,” said Caroline Cochran, Oklo’s co-founder and COO, in a statement to CNBC.
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