tech
March 23, 2026
Sam Altman-backed fusion startup Helion in talks with OpenAI
Helion is reportedly negotiating a deal that would see it sell 12.5% of its power output to OpenAI.
TL;DR
- Helion, a fusion startup with Sam Altman as a backer, is in discussions to sell power to OpenAI.
- The deal could involve OpenAI acquiring 12.5% of Helion's power output, starting with five gigawatts by 2030 and scaling to 50 gigawatts by 2035.
- OpenAI's partner Microsoft already has a similar agreement with Helion for power purchases starting in 2028.
- Helion is developing a fusion reactor that directly converts fusion energy into electricity using magnetic fields, rather than relying on steam turbines.
- The company's Polaris prototype recently generated plasma at 150 million degrees Celsius.
- Sam Altman has reportedly stepped down as Helion's board chair and recused himself from the talks.
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