Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is stepping down from his position as chairman of Oklo, a company focused on developing small modular nuclear reactors. Jacob DeWitte, Oklo’s CEO and co-founder, will take on the role of chairman as the startup continues its efforts to bring its first reactor online by 2027. Despite Altman’s departure from the chairman role, the company stated it will keep exploring strategic partnerships with major artificial intelligence firms, which could still include OpenAI.
Oklo made headlines in May 2024s when it became a publicly traded company in the United States through a merger with Altman’s special purpose acquisition company, AltC Acquisition Corp. This move marked a significant step for the nuclear energy startup, which is working to address growing power demands driven by the rise of generative AI technologies and the global push for cleaner energy solutions.
The growing interest in nuclear power comes after years of limited progress in the sector. Now, as industries seek stable and low-carbon energy sources, nuclear energy is gaining renewed attention. Oklo’s Aurora Powerhouse reactors are at the center of its mission to deliver reliable nuclear power. In March, the company began a Pre-Application Readiness Assessment with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This process is an early step toward submitting a combined license application for its reactors, a crucial milestone in its regulatory journey.
Additionally, Oklo signed a non-binding agreement in December to supply power to Switch, a data center company based in Las Vegas. This partnership reflects Oklo’s focus on supporting the high energy needs of data infrastructure while contributing to cleaner energy goals. As leadership changes and development plans move forward, Oklo remains committed to advancing its nuclear technology and positioning itself at the intersection of AI growth and sustainable energy demand.
