Energy startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) announced a collaboration with Google’s DeepMind to enhance the performance of its upcoming Sparc reactor through artificial intelligence. Utilizing DeepMind’s Torax software, the partnership aims to simulate the plasma behavior within the reactor and optimize processes to achieve sustainable fusion power.
Fusion energy, heralded for its potential to generate vast amounts of electricity with zero emissions, is attracting interest from tech giants like Google, particularly as a solution for powering energy-intensive data centers. This follows Google’s previous collaboration with TAE Technologies, where AI was employed to analyze plasma dynamics in fusion systems.
CFS’s Sparc reactor, currently under construction near Boston, is anticipated to be the first fusion device generating more energy than it consumes, with completion expected in 2026. The integration of AI is seen as crucial to maintaining plasma stability, which poses significant challenges compared to traditional nuclear fission. Google’s investment in CFS and its innovative approaches further signals the tech giant’s commitment to advancing fusion technology.
