Google has signed the largest energy purchase agreement for nuclear fusion to date, securing 200 megawatts from the first commercial ARC power plant being developed by Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a spin-off from MIT.
The plant, expected to go online in the early 2030s in Virginia, will use a tokamak reactor—a ring-shaped device that heats plasma to over 100 million degrees to enable the fusion of atomic nuclei and release vast amounts of energy. The total output will be 400 megawatts, enough to power 150,000 households or large industrial facilities.
In addition to the energy purchase, Google has invested further in CFS as part of a new funding round, following its participation in a $1.8 billion investment in 2021.
Fusion energy is becoming a strategic focus for major tech companies, who see it as a sustainable solution for the increasing energy demands of AI systems and data centers. Google’s move could accelerate fusion’s path to commercial viability.
In Brief: Tech World Highlights
- Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools and features for iPhones, is getting a new feature called Priority Notifications, launching first in the European Union.
- Space tech company Blue Origin is preparing for the second launch of its New Glenn mega-rocket, claiming it has resolved the issues that caused the previous failure.
- Shares of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi dropped by 6.1% after one of its SU7 electric vehicles, equipped with a driver assistance system, was involved in a fatal highway crash in China.
- Tinder has introduced a new in-app game called The Game Game, allowing users to test their flirting skills with AI chatbots through romantic comedy scenarios powered by OpenAI.
- Google has announced its new mid-range smartphone, the Pixel 9a, featuring a “Battery Health Assistance” tool to extend battery lifespan.
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