Press Release: Locai Labs signs contract with First Light Fusion for the supply of a domain-specific LLM for fusion energy research
London and Oxford, UK: Locai Labs Limited, the UK’s foundational AI company, and First Light Fusion, the UK’s inertial fusion energy company and a pioneer in machine learning-driven simulation, have today announced the successful execution of a contract for the supply and deployment of a bespoke, domain-specific, Large Language Model (DSLM) as a powerful coding assistant for First Light Fusion’s science & engineering teams.
This agreement marks a significant progression from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two companies earlier this year.
The model has been meticulously trained using Locai Labs’ proprietary ‘Forget-Me-Not™’ framework on First Light Fusion’s unique scientific and engineering workflows, creating a powerful AI coding assistant purpose-built for the challenges of fusion energy research and development.
A core principle of this project is security and data sovereignty. The AI model has been deployed on First Light Fusion’s secure, air-gapped, high-performance, computing infrastructure in Oxford. This guarantees all First Light Fusion’s proprietary data and intellectual property remain secure within its own IT infrastructure, with no risk of external exposure.
The contract includes a comprehensive project plan for continuous improvement, with two full model retraining cycles per year to ensure the AI evolves alongside First Light Fusion’s research.
Mark Thomas, First Light Fusion, CEO said: "We’ve been impressed by the quality and speed of the work delivered by Locai Labs. From initial planning to final deployment on our air-gapped system, their team demonstrated a deep understanding of our needs and a commitment to excellence which aligns with our own mission. This AI coding assistant is already proving to be a valuable asset.”
James Drayson, CEO of Locai Labs, added: "This collaboration is a powerful example of how UK-developed foundational AI can be applied to accelerate UK scientific research and industrialisation. It’s a privilege to support such an innovative and mission-driven company."
ENDS
Editors Notes:
About Locai Labs Limited
Locai Labs is the UK’s foundational AI company. Based in London, the company has developed a proprietary LLM post-training methodology; Forget-Me-Not which it has used to create Locai-L1-Large & Jupiter, the UK’s first foundational large language models, trained using 100% renewable energy.
For more information, visit www.locailabs.com
About First Light Fusion
First Light Fusion (FLF) is a UK-based inertial fusion energy company focused on enabling the commercialisation of fusion energy and supporting the UK’s sovereign capabilities in defence and materials science research.
Founded in 2011 as a spin-out from the University of Oxford, First Light has developed proprietary technologies in pressure and velocity amplification technology, machine learning simulation codes (the most advanced in the global fusion sector), and world-leading experimental infrastructure. This includes Europe’s largest pulsed power facility and the UK’s largest two-stage gas gun – multi-use platforms applicable to both fusion and broader high-energy physics research.
In September 2025, First Light published its research paper ‘FLARE – A Bold Strategy to Unlock Fusion Power’ - a concept that unlocks a new faster and more economical pathway to commercial inertial fusion energy.
For more information visit www.firstlightfusion.com
