Bill Gates is ready to sink billions into getting next-generation nuclear energy off the ground in the United States.
The world's sixth richest man has been a staunch nuclear supporter for years now, and has already sunk over a billion dollars of his own money into his innovative nuclear power start-up TerraPower LLC. But according to Gates, that cool billion is just the beginning.
Bill Gates' TerraPower, which he co-founded and co-funded with fellow multi-billionaire Warren Buffett, will likely directly supply nuclear energy to power Microsoft's own massive Artificial Intelligence ambitions.
TerraPower aims to make nuclear safer and less controversial by piloting a new kind of reactor that uses liquid sodium as a coolant which allows them to significantly lower their water consumption and potentially even recycle their own spent nuclear fuel, closing a critical hazardous waste loop.
Altman, too, has founded a start-up specializing in "Nuclear microreactors." Oklo, which is an AI-integrated nuclear energy firm, went public in May. Altman is also a heavy advocate for nuclear fusion research.
Not only do some of the biggest names in Big Tech think that nuclear energy is the key to keeping the tech sector's carbon footprint in check, they also think that it could be a profitable venture, especially with some of the innovations that these disruptors are bringing to their new-age nuclear reactors.
Bill Gates thinks that making nuclear power affordable and efficient is within reach, and he plans to keep putting the weight of his wealth behind it until it gets there.
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