Keystone Sessions - AI, Hyperscalers, and the Future of Nuclear Energy

The next industrial revolution will be decided by who can power it — and who gets to participate in it.
AI is reshaping the global economy, and the infrastructure required to run it — data centers, hyperscale facilities, and the energy grids feeding them — is becoming the most consequential build-out of our time. Behind the scenes, a new generation of nuclear technology is racing to meet that demand. And around the world, entrepreneurs are reimagining what innovation looks like when it's built across borders. On May 13th, we're bringing all three conversations into one room.

Three sessions. One night. A look at the forces shaping how the future gets built — and who builds it.

Doors open at 4:30 PM.

5:00 PM | Powering the Boom: Hyperscalers, AI, and the Energy Behind the Cloud
Every AI query, every model trained, every cloud workload comes with a footprint — and hyperscalers are now among the largest energy consumers on the planet. Nekabari Goka, Regional Lead for Global Infrastructure and Energy at Google, joins us to discuss how the world's largest tech companies are rethinking power, siting, and partnerships to keep up with exponential demand. A conversation about the infrastructure decisions shaping the next decade of computing — and what it means for regions like ours.

6:00 PM | Splitting the Future: What's Next for Nuclear Energy
Nuclear is having a moment. After decades on the sidelines, it's re-emerging as a serious answer to clean, reliable, baseload power — driven by new reactor designs, smaller footprints, and an AI-fueled hunger for electricity that renewables alone can't meet. Jason Pottorf, Principal Nuclear Engineer at Deep Fission, sits down with Dr. Amir A. Bahadori, Professor and Nuclear Engineering Program Director at K-State, to unpack where the technology is heading: small modular reactors, deep-borehole designs, fuel innovation, and the workforce required to bring it all online.

7:00 PM | Global Perspectives on Entrepreneurship
Innovation doesn't stop at the border. In partnership with Global Ties KC, this special session brings together international entrepreneurs from 15 countries to share how they're advancing innovation, trade, and small business growth around the world. Moderated by Keystone CEO Kevin McGinnis, this panel offers a firsthand look at building inclusive startup ecosystems — and how international connections and cultural exchange can fuel innovation, business growth, and community impact right here in Kansas City.

Whether you work in energy, infrastructure, AI, global business, policy, or you just want to understand the forces shaping how the next decade gets built — this one's for you.