Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent funding of 60 million yuan for the startup "New Candle Era," which focuses on utilizing AI to solve challenges in controlled nuclear fusion, aiming to provide comprehensive solutions from observation diagnosis to real-time control [4][6]. Company Overview - New Candle Era was established in September 2025 and aims to leverage AI as a "smart brain" to tackle complex issues in fusion reactions [4]. - The founding team includes experts in AI and plasma physics, with backgrounds in significant academic and industry roles [6]. Funding and Use of Proceeds - The 60 million yuan angel round financing was led by Zhongke Chuangxing and Dingfeng Kechuang, with participation from the Waterwood Tsinghua Alumni Fund [4]. - The funds will be allocated to core technology research and development, joint technology validation, algorithm platform construction, and talent acquisition [4]. Market Context - The demand for energy is increasing significantly, with Goldman Sachs predicting a 165% rise in global AI data center electricity needs by 2030 [6]. - Controlled nuclear fusion is viewed as a potential ultimate energy source due to its stability, abundance, and low cost [6]. Technological Challenges and Solutions - New Candle Era addresses key challenges in fusion research, such as the need for high-precision reconstruction of plasma states from incomplete observations [7]. - The company aims to enhance simulation efficiency using AI, reducing computation time from days to seconds for critical processes [7]. - The ultimate goal is to achieve precise control of the Tokamak device, which requires real-time adjustments based on plasma states [7]. Strategic Focus - The company is currently focusing on the Tokamak path for nuclear fusion, which is developing rapidly and has abundant data [8]. - New Candle Era has signed cooperation agreements with leading fusion companies and plans to enhance product iterations around high-fidelity digital twins and real-time control capabilities [8]. Investor Perspectives - Zhongke Chuangxing views controlled nuclear fusion as a solution to the energy crisis in the AI era, highlighting the innovative integration of AI and fusion physics by New Candle Era [9]. - Dingfeng Kechuang emphasizes that AI for Fusion is a key path for advancing fusion technology, noting the team's deep understanding of both fusion and AI applications [9]. - The Waterwood Tsinghua Alumni Fund recognizes AI as a core accelerator for the commercialization of controlled nuclear fusion, supporting New Candle Era's dual expertise in both fields [9].
国内首家核聚变AI大脑公司获6000万元天使轮融资,已与头部核聚变公司签订合作丨早起看早期
36氪·2026-03-24 01:19