Sam Altman-backed fusion startup Helion in talks with OpenAI

Helion, a fusion energy startup backed by Sam Altman and investors such as Mithril, Lightspeed, and Softbank, is reportedly in early-stage talks with OpenAI for a deal that could guarantee OpenAI 12.5% of Helion’s fusion power production—equating to five gigawatts by 2030 and 50 gigawatts by 2035. This ambitious target implies Helion plans to rapidly scale its production, requiring the construction and installation of approximately 800 reactors by 2030 and an additional 7,200 by 2035. Helion aims to build its first commercial-scale fusion reactor within this timeframe, potentially positioning itself years ahead of competitors who generally target the early 2030s for commercial fusion operations. Unlike most fusion startups that convert fusion heat into electricity via steam turbines, Helion is developing a unique reactor design that directly converts fusion energy into electricity using magnets. Their hourglass-shaped reactor uses magnetic fields to accelerate plasma fuel toward a collision