Altman exits Helion board as OpenAI eyes a broader fusion partnership
Altman exits Helion board as OpenAI eyes a broader fusion partnership
Sam Altman steps down from Helion Energy's board as talks of a large-scale partnership with OpenAI emerge, signaling closer ties amid a push for long-term fusion-powered AI compute.
OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman has stepped down from the board of Helion Energy, the fusion startup he has backed since 2015, as the two companies begin exploring a potential partnership at a significant scale. Altman's dual roles — leading OpenAI and sitting on Helion's board — were described as untenable as the AI leader's company eyes future collaborations with Helion.
Altman said on social media that he will retain a financial interest in Helion and will recuse himself from any deal negotiations. Helion's CEO, David Kirtley, thanked Altman for his integral role in the company's development and said the new arrangement could allow closer collaboration in a capacity aligned with both parties’ interests.
OpenAI is also negotiating to buy electricity from Helion as part of a potential long-term energy supply. Terms reportedly include a guaranteed share of Helion's output — initially 12.5% — with talks aimed at expanding to multi-gigawatt levels by 2030 and up to 50 gigawatts by 2035, signaling a serious energy partnership beyond traditional customer contracts.
The discussions occur amid a broader race among technology giants to lock in long-term energy supplies to support surging AI compute needs. Helion has previously signed deals with Microsoft and Nucor, and there have been no new customer announcements beyond those.
Helion Energy has raised more than $1 billion in funding, including a $425 million Series F closed in January 2025 that valued the company at about $5.4 billion. Analysts say such arrangements illustrate how AI firms may increasingly tie the economics of energy to their growth, reshaping the strategic importance of fusion power in the tech industry.
