The space technology company owned by Elon Musk, SpaceX, has acquired another of the billionaire’s companies, the start-up focused on artificial intelligence, xAI, resulting in a new entity whose valuation would be around $1.25 trillion. The objective, as Musk himself has shared, is to put hundreds of data centers into orbit to boost the future of artificial intelligence.

“SpaceX has acquired xAI to form the most ambitious, vertically integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space internet, direct-to-mobile communications, and the world’s largest real-time information and freedom of expression platform.“Elon Musk commented in a statement published on the Space X website. He alludes in his text to the combination of xAI with

The movement, as he explains, marks “the next book in the mission of SpaceX and xAI“, what is “scale to create a conscious sun that understands the universe and extends the light of consciousness to the stars“The intention is to begin developing what it calls “space AI”, that is, an artificial intelligence system located in space and powered by solar energy.

“Current advances in AI depend on large terrestrial data centers, which require enormous amounts of power and cooling. The global demand for electricity for AI simply cannot be met by terrestrial solutions, even in the short term, without imposing hardship on communities and the environment“Musk explains in the statement.”In the long term, spatial AI is obviously the only way to scale” he says, pointing out that harnessing one millionth of the Sun’s energy would require more than a million times more energy than civilization currently uses.

“The only logical solution is to move these resource-intensive efforts to a location with vast power and space.“, Musk continues detailing. “By directly harnessing near-constant solar energy with low operating and maintenance costs, these satellites will transform our ability to scale computing. It’s always sunny in space!”.

One million satellites for space data centers

Thus, its intention is to launch into space “a constellation of a million satellites that operate as orbital data centers“and capable of harnessing solar energy to support applications based on artificial intelligence for thousands of people. Musk’s ambition with all this is to guarantee “eThe multiplanetary future of humanity”, which also alludes to its aspirations to develop a habitable Mars.

To this end, SpaceX has already submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to obtain approval to launch a constellation of one million satellites for data centers. According to The Vergeproposes establishing a network of solar-powered data centers in low Earth orbit that communicate with each other using lasers.

It is unlikely that the FCC will grant approval for such a large number of satellites for data centers, but it could be the starting point for the company to begin negotiations with the agency. Despite this, if Musk’s goal becomes a reality, although with a small part of what was requested, it would mean a notable increase in artificial objects in orbit around the Earth.
The European Space Agency estimates that there are currently around 15,000 satellites orbiting the Earth, many of which belong to Starlink, also owned by the billionaire.

Given the concern of experts about the increase in space debris in the coming years, Musk defends that this model would be a more economical and environmentally friendly alternative than the current one. Terrestrial data centers involve the consumption of large amounts of energy and water to facilitate cooling; the increase in temperatures due to its operation and the impact on local communities. And all this is causing the rejection of certain groups.

In this sense, space data centers could radiate their heat into the vacuum of space and rely almost exclusively on real-time solar energy and limited batteries to power them. Additionally, launching data centers into space would avoid human impact.
Musk notes that this constellation of data centers will be based on SpaceX’s space sustainability design and systems strategies.

Elon Musk and the expansion of the universe

The businessman points out that within 2 to 3 years, the most economical way to generate AI computing will be in space. Driving that profitability, he says, will allow companies to advance training their artificial intelligence models and processing data at unprecedented speeds and scales, thereby accelerating the understanding of physics and the invention of technologies to benefit humanity.

In the long term, Elon Musk ventures the installation of production plants on the Moon. “While launching AI satellites from Earth is the immediate goal, Starship’s capabilities will also enable operations on other worlds.“yes,” he says. “Starship will be able to land massive amounts of cargo on the Moon. Once there, it will be possible to establish a permanent presence for scientific and manufacturing activities. Factories on the Moon can take advantage of lunar resources to manufacture satellites and deploy them in space”.

According to the entrepreneur, the capabilities that will be unlocked by making space data centers a reality will allow the autonomous growth of bases on the Moon, an entire civilization on Mars and, ultimately, expansion into the universe.