As of the close of trading on Nov. 29, shares of Constellation Energy had returned 119% in 2024, making it one of the best-performing stocks in the S&P 500. Of note, Constellation's nuclear energy peer, Vistra, was up 315% year to date, making it the top-performing stock in the S&P 500.

The convergence of AI and nuclear energy brings unique risks, especially when AI moves from a passive tool to an autonomous participant.

Nuclear-power enthusiasts are more optimistic about the future of the technology. They think power demand will continue to increase, thanks in part to AI. And once online, new nuclear reactors will be used to displace older fossil-fuel plants, including those built to address nearer-term electricity needs.

Meta Platforms Inc announced plans to seek nuclear energy proposals to power AI innovation and sustainability goals.

“Supporting the development of clean energy must continue to be a priority as electric grids expand to accommodate growing energy needs,” the company said in a release. “At Meta, we believe nuclear energy will play a pivotal role in the transition to a cleaner, more reliable, and diversified electric grid.”

The company said it is looking for developers that can help accelerate the availability of new nuclear generators and create "sufficient scale" to achieve material cost reductions.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has called for bids to build up to 4 GW of nuclear power capacity, equivalent to four full-sized nuclear reactors, amid surging energy demands from the technology industry.

The first new reactor at a British nuclear power station in more than 30 years has been lifted into place at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.

As demand for clean electricity to run data centers increases, operators are considering nuclear energy. But the path to power has a few roadblocks.

There's no AI revolution without an energy revolution, according to leaders in the AI industry.

According to research from the University of California, the amount of power needed for ChatGPT to generate a single 100-word email is 0.14 kilowatt-hours, roughly equivalent to running 14 LED lightbulbs for an hour.