🔋 Nuclear’s AI Comeback
👋 Welcome! Not just watching AI trends, but unpacking their impact—this Tuesday, we explore how AI and nuclear energy are quietly teaming up to power a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient world in the years ahead.
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AI & TECH
Small Reactors Power a Bold Shift – Small modular reactors (SMRs) are moving closer to reality, with 74 designs across 15 countries, the NEA’s dashboard shows. Backed by $15.4B, SMRs promise cheaper, steadier clean energy that could lower bills, power data centers, and replace coal. If hurdles fall, they’ll reshape daily life. The question now: how long until reactors fit in an Iron Man suit?
BYD’s Hypercar Breaks Speed Records – Chinese automaker BYD has unveiled the YangWang U9 Extreme, an electric hypercar that just reached 308 mph in Germany—faster than Bugatti’s legendary 2019 run. With nearly 3,000 horsepower and next-gen battery tech, the U9 shows how EVs can outperform traditional supercars. Only 30 will be built, making it both a breakthrough in speed and an instant status symbol.
Facebook Tests AI Dating Assistant – Meta is adding an AI chatbot to Facebook Dating to refine matches and ease “swipe fatigue.” The tool can suggest tailored searches or polish profiles, alongside a new “Meet Cute” weekly match. With rivals like Tinder and Hinge already AI-driven, Meta’s move signals that algorithm-powered romance is becoming the dating world’s default.
Ransomware Chaos Grounds European Airports – A ransomware attack on RTX-owned Collins Aerospace froze check-in systems across Europe, causing mass delays and cancellations. Experts warn hackers now target bigger, riskier systems for money and status. With critical infrastructure in their sights, ransomware is shifting from corporate nuisance to a direct threat disrupting daily life worldwide.
CAREER & WORK
Visa Fee Shock Reshapes Hiring Plans – After Trump’s proposed $100,000 H-1B fee, analysts warn U.S. tech risks talent shortages, wage spikes, and lost innovation. Smaller firms may suffer most, while offshoring to Toronto, London, or Bangalore accelerates. Some expect a pivot toward generative AI to offset costs, reshaping how high-skill roles get filled.
VC Firms Shift Beyond MBAs – Elite MBAs still open doors to venture capital, but their dominance is slipping. Harvard placed 50 grads in VC last year, yet only 32% of mid-career investors now hold the degree, down from 44%. As AI and hardware reshape investing, technical backgrounds from firms like OpenAI and SpaceX are increasingly prized.
Oakland Ballers Let AI Manage Game – Oakland’s indie baseball team tested AI as manager, using ChatGPT trained on a century of stats. The system mirrored coach Aaron Miles’ decisions, but fans saw the experiment as a tech stunt over community loyalty. The backlash shows sports innovation sparks excitement—but also mistrust when tradition feels sidelined.
ECONOMY & FINANCE
Exxon Backs $6.8B Guyana Project – ExxonMobil approved $6.8 billion for Hammerhead, its seventh oil development in Guyana’s Stabroek Block. First oil is expected in 2029, adding 150,000 barrels per day. The project boosts Guyana’s rapid rise as an energy powerhouse while Exxon, Chevron, and CNOOC expand production toward 1.7 million barrels daily.
Brazil Tightens Spending to Hit Fiscal Goal – Brazil raised its spending freeze to 12.1 billion reais ($2.27B) to stay within its fiscal framework. The government now expects a 30.2 billion real primary deficit in 2025, still inside its zero-deficit target band. Fiscal tightening highlights pressure to balance growth with credibility.
TikTok U.S. Deal Nears Completion – The Trump administration says a deal to separate TikTok’s U.S. arm from ByteDance is close, with Oracle and Silver Lake among investors. ByteDance will retain under 20% ownership, while Oracle will host U.S. data. The move averts a ban and signals a rare U.S.-China breakthrough.
VC & FUNDING
Oura Nears $875M Series E Raise – Smart ring maker Oura is finalizing a $875M Series E at a $10.9B valuation, Bloomberg reports. Sales have surged to 5.5M units, fueling over $1B in 2025 revenue. Funds will scale production, expand globally, and accelerate product innovation.
Unit 221B Raises $5M to Fight Hackers – Security firm Unit 221B closed a $5M seed round led by J2 Ventures. Its eWitness platform tracks and disrupts hacker groups like Scattered Spider, aiding arrests and protecting companies, governments, and infrastructure from rising threats posed by younger cybercriminals.
BIG THINK
Next Reaction: AI powers nuclear revival
AI and nuclear energy are starting to feel less like distant sci‑fi promises and more like active partners in solving urgent energy challenges. With data centers swelling and AI’s power demands skyrocketing, many are asking: Where is the electricity going to come from? Nuclear energy—especially in smaller, more flexible forms—is reemerging as a serious answer.
Advanced reactors, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), new fuel technologies, and AI‑augmented safety systems are converging to offer cleaner baseload power with better efficiency and safety. Recent projects are showing tangible progress: Google’s partnership with Elementl Power to develop three advanced nuclear sites producing 600 MW each is a prime example of aligning clean electricity supply with the demands of AI.
What’s especially inspiring is how AI itself is helping improve nuclear processes. AI tools are now speeding up reactor licensing (as in INL’s use of Microsoft’s AI) which historically has been slow, cautious, and highly regulated. AI is also being used to optimize nuclear plant construction, monitor fuel behavior for safety, predict material stress, and better manage operations. These improvements don’t just promise lower cost, but higher safety and less downtime. For example, a recent study used AI to evaluate different cladding materials under extreme reactor conditions, helping to identify ones that hold up better under stress and reduce accident risk.
Still, the path isn’t without tension. There are real questions about waste, regulatory lag, cost overruns, and public trust. Building nuclear reactors remains capital-intensive; safety concerns remain central; and integrating AI safely into such sensitive systems demands high transparency, rigorous testing, and regulatory cooperation. There’s also the risk of overpromising, both from nuclear and AI advocates, and underdelivering on timelines.
But the momentum feels different now. More private investment, clearer policy support, and meaningful partnerships are accelerating what used to take decades. Projects that seemed speculative a few years ago are now becoming pilot‑scale plants, licensing efforts are being streamlined, and collaborations between tech firms and nuclear firms are emerging.
The marriage of AI and nuclear energy has real potential to help power a cleaner, more resilient future. If done right, this isn’t just about handling AI’s appetite for electricity—it’s about building energy systems that are more reliable, safer, faster, more efficient, and more aligned with climate goals. The key will be balancing speed with care, innovation with responsibility, and investment with social trust.
Actionable Insights
Demand transparent, auditable AI in nuclear systems—ensure safety experts and regulators guide development from the start.
Accelerate SMR rollout by cutting red tape—simplify permits, licensing, and funding to scale clean energy.
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THE NUMBER:
of global energy comes from nuclear reactors. A slim share, yet it anchors grids with steady, carbon-free muscle.
WISDOM:
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”.