Sam Altman steps down, clearing path for Oklo's partnerships in AI sector

In a significant shift, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, stepped down as chairman of the board of Oklo, a nuclear startup, in April 2025. This decision came shortly after Oklo became public through a merger with AltC Acquisition Corp, which was completed in May 2024. The transition allows Oklo to explore partnerships more freely, particularly with companies in the artificial intelligence sector, as data centers increasingly seek reliable power sources. Caroline Cochran, co-founder and COO of Oklo, expressed her enthusiasm for continued collaboration with Altman in advancing clean energy solutions tailored for the AI industry. Despite currently lacking agreements with major tech firms referred to as hyperscalers, Oklo recognizes the growing interest in emissions-free power, which is critical for sustaining their operations and validating the market interest in their advanced nuclear microreactors known as Aurora. These reactors are designed to have capacities ranging from 75 to over 100 megawatts. Following the announcement of Altman's resignation, Oklo's shares experienced a decline of 12% during extended trading sessions. The company has contracts in place to supply up to 12 gigawatts of power to Switch, a data center operator, although they continue to pursue higher-profile partnerships in the tech industry to solidify their market presence. Plans to construct the first Aurora reactor at Idaho National Laboratory are expected to progress with an eye on completion before the end of the decade, positioning Oklo as a key player in the ongoing energy transition towards cleaner alternatives.