The real reason Google DeepMind is working with a fusion energy startup

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), an energy startup, is collaborating with Google’s DeepMind to optimize the operation of its upcoming Sparc fusion reactor using AI. They plan to simulate the plasma inside the reactor with DeepMind’s Torax software, combined with AI models, to identify the most effective ways to achieve sustained fusion power. Fusion energy offers the promise of vast electricity generation with zero emissions, using water as a near-limitless fuel source. Google’s interest in fusion aligns with its broader strategy to secure clean, abundant energy to power its data centers, and this partnership follows previous collaborations with other fusion startups like TAE Technologies. The key challenge in fusion energy is maintaining plasma at extremely high temperatures long enough for the reaction to be self-sustaining, which is difficult outside of stars due to plasma instability. CFS uses powerful magnets to contain the plasma, but controlling these conditions requires complex, real-time adjustments beyond human capability—an area where AI excels. DeepMind’s Torax software,