How this startup is bringing nuclear power to AI data centers

About this episode

Mike Laufer discusses how Kairos Power is innovating nuclear energy for AI data centers.

There's been renewed interest in nuclear power in recent years, thanks in part to demand from tech companies in search of reliable energy to power their AI data centers. The startup Kairos Power has jumped on this opportunity. Its nuclear reactors are cooled by molten salt. They also use golf-ball sized nuclear fuel, instead of uranium rods cooled by water used by traditional reactors. Mike Laufer, co-founder and CEO of Kairos, says their reactors a bit like an upside down gumball machine. The company just started construction on its first power plant, located in eastern Tennessee, called Hermes 2. It will supply energy to the utility in the area, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and specifically to Google to power its data centers. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Laufer to learn more.

People in this episode

Host: Stephanie Hughes

Guest: Mike Laufer

Topics covered

• nuclear power
• AI data centers
• renewable energy
• startup innovation
• energy supply

Keywords

• nuclear reactors
• molten salt
• AI
• data centers
• energy supply
• startup
• construction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kairos Power, Tennessee Valley Authority, Google

Places: eastern Tennessee

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