Big changes are happening at Oklo, the small modular nuclear reactor company. Sam Altman, the high-profile OpenAI leader, is stepping down from his role as chairman after nearly a decade. Jake DeWitte, the firm’s CEO and co-founder, will take over the position. This shift marks a new chapter for the energy startup as it pushes forward with ambitious plans to fuel the next wave of tech innovation.
Oklo’s leadership expressed gratitude for Altman’s contributions while emphasizing their commitment to advancing clean energy solutions. The company is working on a 75MW modular reactor called the Aurora Powerhouse, designed to meet surging power needs, particularly from data centers supporting artificial intelligence. Originally planned at 50MW, the reactor’s capacity was increased to keep pace with rising demand.
Oklo targets 2027 for its first operational reactor and has begun preliminary steps with US regulators to secure necessary approvals. The path hasn’t been smooth—regulators previously rejected an application due to missing details, but Oklo has since addressed those gaps.
Skeptics question whether the company can stick to its timeline and secure enough enriched uranium, a critical fuel for its reactors. Despite doubts, Oklo has locked in multiple agreements with data center operators, signaling strong industry interest. These include a major deal with Switch for up to 12GW of power over two decades and smaller but significant partnerships with other providers.
The company’s growing list of collaborations suggests confidence in its technology, even as challenges remain.