I got 'triggered' into this thought by thinking about the energy requirements of a system worth 7 trillion. A system which seems to require exponentially larger resources for progression.

is it more efficient to properly fund fusion research or give sam altman $7T and hope for the best?

Nobody is giving Altman $7 trillion and there isn't any evidence that he's actually trying to raise it (as opposed to suggesting that level of investment globally over time toward AI related infrastructure to support its build out).

imagine an AI paperclip maximizer, except now maximizing for success of fusion... so basically, turning little ol' Earth into the next Sun, oops.

I for one welcome our helium producing overlords.