Shares of Oklo Inc. (OKLO) surged 5.19% during pre-market trading on Friday, marking a significant upward move for the nuclear energy startup.

The rally appears driven by two key positive developments. First, the company announced a strategic collaboration with AI chip leader NVIDIA Corporation and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to advance critical nuclear infrastructure, AI-enabled research, and nuclear fuel development. This partnership aims to integrate advanced nuclear energy with artificial intelligence and digital twin technology to accelerate deployment. Second, HSBC initiated coverage on Oklo with a "Buy" rating and a $96 price target, citing the company's position to benefit from a new U.S. Department of Energy licensing process for its Aurora power plant and its strong, debt-free balance sheet.

The news aligns with growing investor focus on nuclear power as a stable, baseload energy source capable of supporting the massive electricity demands of artificial intelligence and data centers. Oklo, which focuses on next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs), is seen as well-positioned in this emerging high-growth sector.