China-based DeepSeek’s R1 artificial intelligence model could reduce the anticipated surge in electricity consumption and stall the development of next-generation reactors that are poised to accommodate growing electricity needs of AI technologies, TechCrunch reported.

DeepSeek released a powerful AI program that it claims cost just $5.6m (€5.3m) to build, marking a possible shift from the massive levels of investment by technology industry giants in the energy – including nuclear – needed to power their data centres and AI initiatives.

Nuclear stocks fell on Monday, marking a reverse of fortunes compared to last week. The sector had broadly gained ground after US president Donald Trump announced last Tuesday that Sam Altman’s OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle are planning a joint venture called Stargate, to build data centres and other AI infrastructure in the US, with investments of up to $500bn. Altman is one of the key investors in Oklo, a US company developing advanced nuclear reactors.