How China Could Beat The U.S. To Nuclear Fusion, As AI Power Needs Surge

Despite decades of U.S. leadership in nuclear fusion, China is now spending twice as much and building projects faster to beat the U.S. to commercial fusion power. The elusive, limitless, clean energy source has seen a rapid influx of private funds as AI power demands surge, with billions from the likes of OpenAI's Sam Altman, Microsoft and Google. But Satellite images show China is rapidly building giant new fusion projects, while cornering the supply chain and talent pool to get there first.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:25 American born
6:08 Money, size and speed
9:01 Manpower and materials
11:07 Private sector power

Produced and shot by: Katie Tarasov
Edited by: Evan Lee Miller
Senior Director of Video: Jeniece Pettitt
Animation: Jason Reginato
Additional Footage: Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Fusion Industry Association, General Atomics, Getty Images, Helion, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Planet Labs, Michael Livingston/PPPL, NASA, TAE Technologies

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How China Could Beat The U.S. To Nuclear Fusion, As AI Power Needs Surge

Post from CNBC on March 16, 2025

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