The decision, announced Monday, comes amid growing alignment between the two companies, particularly around future energy needs tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure. Altman, a long-time investor in Helion since 2015, said holding positions at both organizations had become increasingly impractical as discussions around deeper partnerships intensified.
While leaving the board, Altman confirmed he will retain a financial stake in Helion but will recuse himself from any negotiations involving potential deals between the companies to avoid conflicts of interest.
Helion CEO David Kirtley acknowledged Altman’s contributions to the company’s growth, noting his continued involvement in a different capacity as the firms explore future collaboration.
Reports indicate that OpenAI is in advanced discussions to secure electricity from Helion, highlighting the growing urgency among tech companies to lock in reliable, long-term energy sources. The talks reportedly include provisions for OpenAI to access a portion of Helion’s projected power output—starting at about 12.5%—with ambitions to scale significantly over the next decade.
According to details cited by Axios, the agreement under consideration could see OpenAI obtain the equivalent of 5 gigawatts of power by 2030, potentially expanding to 50 gigawatts by 2035. Neither company has officially confirmed these terms, and Helion has stated it has not announced any new customers beyond existing agreements.
The potential partnership reflects a broader industry trend, as major technology firms race to secure energy capacity to support the rapid expansion of AI systems. Companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have all recently entered into ambitious energy agreements, including investments in nuclear and fusion technologies.
Founded in 2013, Helion has attracted more than $1 billion in funding and reached a valuation of $5.4 billion following a major fundraising round in early 2025. The company is among a growing group of startups aiming to commercialize fusion power, a long-promised but still emerging energy source.
The developments underscore how the intersection of AI growth and energy demand is reshaping partnerships across the technology and energy sectors, with fusion increasingly seen as a potential long-term solution.