Jensen Huang effect hits Wall Street: Oklo surges 24% as AI turns to mini nuclear reactors

Oklo Inc. (OKLO) surged more than 24% this week, adding to a staggering 1,000% gain over the past year, after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said nuclear energy will become essential to support AI’s explosive growth. His comments on The Joe Rogan Experience and in a Bloomberg interview shifted Wall Street’s attention from chips to power, framing energy as the next major bottleneck for artificial intelligence.

Huang said today’s power grid cannot support the massive loads created by next-generation AI data centers. He warned that these facilities are turning into “gigawatt factories” that will demand far more electricity than current infrastructure can deliver. He predicted that small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors will become standard within six to seven years, providing stable on-site power for AI systems running around the clock.

His remarks had an immediate impact on nuclear-focused equities. Investors moved quickly into companies developing advanced fission technologies, including Oklo and NuScale Power. The reaction showed how deeply energy concerns are now tied to AI expansion.


Oklo is viewed as a pure-play nuclear technology company positioned directly at the intersection of AI and energy. The California-based firm develops fast-neutron microreactors known as Aurora powerhouses. These units are built to deliver 15–75 MWe of clean energy using recycled nuclear waste as fuel.

The company has already secured a 12-gigawatt power agreement with data-center operator Switch, giving it one of the largest commercial commitments in the advanced nuclear sector. Oklo also won a U.S. Air Force microreactor contract at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, reinforcing interest in its technology for defense and mission-critical sites.

Tech companies are paying close attention. Microsoft recently pursued nuclear power sourcing from the Three Mile Island site, signaling growing demand for carbon-free baseload energy. Oklo’s model, which allows it to own and operate reactors under long-term power contracts, matches what large AI operators want: stable, private, predictable power.

OKLO Stock performance

Investor enthusiasm has pushed OKLO sharply higher. Shares gained 15.59% in one session and more than 24% during the week, extending year-to-date gains of over 342% and a full-year increase of more than 1,000%. That performance reflects rising confidence that nuclear solutions will become central to AI infrastructure development.

However, Oklo remains a pre-revenue company. It continues to report net losses as it advances reactor licensing, fuel development, and federal review processes. The company is pursuing deployment targeted for 2027 but still faces long regulatory timetables.

Wall Street analysts have begun to highlight nuclear energy as a key investment theme for the AI era. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives raised his Oklo price target to $150, citing overwhelming demand for new power sources as AI workloads expand. Analysts say companies that supply reliable energy will play as important a role as chipmakers in the next phase of AI growth.

But analysts also note challenges. Oklo must secure full regulatory approval for its Aurora reactors and execute on construction timelines—areas where nuclear innovation has historically faced delays. The stock has also seen insider share sales, adding caution amid its rapid rise.

Still, the market momentum shows how the AI boom is reshaping energy investing. Nuclear developers once viewed as niche players are now positioned as essential contributors to the coming wave of AI data-center expansion.

Oklo’s technology and long-term strategy

Oklo’s Aurora reactors are compact, factory-built units using liquid-metal cooling and passive safety systems. The design allows reactors to operate for up to 10 years without refueling. The technology draws on more than 400 reactor-years of U.S. Department of Energy research conducted at Idaho National Laboratory.

The company secured the first advanced fission combined license application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It also received a site-use permit for early deployment, setting the stage for its first commercial units.

As AI power needs accelerate, Oklo’s core strategy is to sell electricity, not reactors. The company plans to deliver energy through long-term purchase agreements to customers such as data centers, military bases, and industrial operators. If AI’s energy demands continue climbing at today’s pace, Oklo’s commercial model could move from speculative to essential.