May 28, 2025
Tech News
The demand for electricity in the U.S. has seen a significant uptick in recent years, influenced by a variety of factors including industrial growth, electric vehicle adoption, and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. AI in particular is playing an increasingly important role, as its computational intensity drives higher energy consumption—especially in data centers.
To address this rising energy demand, Big Tech companies are turning to nuclear fission, a technology experiencing renewed interest as a reliable and sustainable energy source. Industry giants like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are making strategic moves—either by investing directly in nuclear startups or securing agreements to purchase nuclear-generated power for their data operations.
Kairos Power is at the forefront of this shift, having secured a commitment from Google to supply 500 megawatts of electricity by 2035. Their advanced reactors use molten fluoride salt for cooling, offering enhanced safety. Kairos is progressing with regulatory approvals and project development to meet this target.
Oklo, another prominent player in the field, counts OpenAI CEO Sam Altman among its backers. The company, despite encountering regulatory delays, aims to minimize nuclear waste and has signed a significant power agreement with data center operator Switch.
Saltfoss—formerly Seaborg—is innovating through its “Power Barge” concept, which installs small modular nuclear reactors on ships. This floating solution has attracted high-profile investors, including Bill Gates, and development continues toward future deployment.
TerraPower, also founded by Gates, is developing the Natrium reactor. Its design incorporates molten salt for energy storage, allowing it to continue generating power even when demand is low—an innovative approach to flexible nuclear energy.
X-Energy has also captured attention with its high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors. In a recent $700 million Series C-1 funding round led by Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, the company plans to bring over 5 gigawatts of new power projects online across the U.S. by 2039. While the company has not confirmed plans to deliver exactly 300 megawatts of capacity, its ambitions point toward substantial deployment.
In the consumer tech space, iPhone users now enjoy built-in scanning features in Apple’s Notes and Files apps. These tools make it easy to digitize paperwork such as receipts and bills. Third-party apps like Google Drive and Dropbox offer enhanced features for organizing and backing up these digital documents.
Meanwhile, Fortnite is evolving its gameplay experience with the “Dance with Sabrina” event. This rhythm-based mode, featuring music by Sabrina Carpenter, introduces time-based challenges and a new way to engage fans—an experiment in musical interactivity from Epic Games.
Tech Explained
Nuclear Fission – A process where the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, along with the release of energy. This principle powers current nuclear reactors and is distinct from fusion, which combines nuclei to release energy.
Small Modular Reactor (SMR) – A type of nuclear reactor that is smaller and designed to be built in factories and delivered to sites for installation. They can be deployed incrementally and have the potential for lower upfront costs compared to traditional reactors.
Molten Salt – A heat transfer and storage medium used in some nuclear reactor designs. Its high boiling point allows for safer operations, as it can carry heat without needing high-pressure systems, reducing the risk of accidents.
Energy Storage – The capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time. In the context of the Natrium reactor, energy is stored as heat in molten salt, which can later be used to generate electricity during high demand periods.
Cloud-based ERP – An Enterprise Resource Planning system hosted on the cloud, allowing businesses to manage operations, finances, and reporting across multiple locations with greater efficiency and real-time data access, which is crucial for organizations like Carousell that operate in various markets.
