New York: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is stepping down as chairman of nuclear energy startup Oklo Inc. (OKLO.N), a strategic move that could pave the way for deeper collaboration between the nuclear tech firm and AI leaders, including potentially OpenAI itself.
The announcement, made Tuesday, caused Oklo shares to tumble more than 11% in after-hours trading, highlighting investor uncertainty over the leadership transition.
Oklo’s CEO and co-founder Jacob DeWitte will assume the chairman role, the company confirmed. DeWitte has been leading Oklo’s push to develop its first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR), with a target launch by 2027.
Despite Altman’s departure from the board, the company remains open to future partnerships with artificial intelligence players. “The startup will continue to explore strategic partnerships with leading AI companies, including potentially with OpenAI,” said Caroline Cochran, Oklo co-founder, in a statement.
Altman played a pivotal role in Oklo’s public market debut via his special purpose acquisition company, AltC Acquisition Corp., in May 2024. His influence helped raise the company’s visibility at a time when nuclear innovation is seeing renewed interest globally.
Driven by growing concerns over carbon emissions and a surge in electricity demand from AI data centers, nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance. Once considered stagnant, the sector is now being viewed as a critical component of the world’s clean energy transition.
In March, Oklo began a Pre-Application Readiness Assessment with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to prepare for the first phase of its combined license application for the Aurora Powerhouse reactors.
Also Read: Elon Musk to Cut DOGE Involvement as Tesla Faces Sales Slump and Investor Pressure
In a separate development, the company signed a non-binding agreement in December to provide power to Switch, a Las Vegas-based data center operator. The deal hints at a potential market fit between modular nuclear reactors and the energy-hungry tech sector.
As Oklo charts a new course under DeWitte’s dual leadership, industry watchers will be closely monitoring whether the company can bridge the gap between clean energy innovation and the AI revolution.
