-What we know now is that the nation, the country is short of electrons and we need to build more generation. -We do have an incredible demand, increasing demand for energy. -We are seeing fundamental growth in the demand for electricity.Westin: Why do we suddenly need so much more electricity. Well, we've all heard about AI data centers hungry for energy that would satisfy medium-sized cities, but it turns out that's only part of the story. -AI data centers appear to be the sort of fastest coming and large ...

Core Insights - Oklo is positioned as a leading nuclear start-up with a multibillion-dollar market valuation despite reporting zero revenue, driven by the potential of small, modular nuclear reactors to meet future energy demands [1][3] - The company's path to commercialization hinges on successfully navigating the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval process, with significant milestones expected in 2026 [3][8] Company Developments - In 2025, Oklo completed a phase 1 pre-application readiness assessment with the NRC, indicating that its microreactor design, Aurora, is prepared for a more in-depth regulatory review [5][6] - The completion of this phase is seen as a meaningful sign of progress, especially following the NRC's rejection of Oklo's previous license application in 2022 due to insufficient information [6] - Oklo has gained support through two Department of Energy initiatives: the Reactor Pilot Program and the Fuel Line Pilot Program, which aim to expedite the NRC regulatory process [7] Future Outlook - The Reactor Pilot Program aims to activate at least three test reactors by July 4, 2026, with Oklo's design being one of them, which would serve as a significant validation of its technology [7] - Overall, these developments suggest that 2026 will be a pivotal year for Oklo, potentially advancing its application into a more substantive review stage and moving closer to deploying its first Aurora reactor by late 2027 [8]