SpaceX has introduced it has acquired synthetic intelligence start-up xAI in a deal that that brings collectively two corporations owned by Elon Musk.
In an announcement, Mr Musk stated the deal would create “probably the most bold, vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based web, direct-to-mobile machine communications and the world’s foremost real-time data and free speech platform”.
The world’s richest man, who additionally owns Tesla, social media platform X, and satellite tv for pc communications firm Starlink, stated the mixture would purpose to develop AI information centres in house, and known as the transfer “not simply the subsequent chapter, however the subsequent e book in SpaceX and xAI’s mission”.
X, previously Twitter, was itself purchased by xAI final 12 months. Mr Musk bought Twitter in 2022 for $44bn (£38bn).
A $1trn firm
Of the most recent deal, Mr Musk wrote: “In the long run, space-based AI is clearly the one approach to scale.
“The one logical answer due to this fact is to move these resource-intensive efforts to a location with huge energy and house. I imply, house known as ‘house’ for a purpose.
“By immediately harnessing near-constant solar energy with little working or upkeep prices, these satellites will remodel our skill to scale compute.
“It is all the time sunny in house.”
The mixed firm would have a valuation of $1.25trn (£910bn), based on Bloomberg, and the deal comes forward of SpaceX’s anticipated preliminary public providing, anticipated to be introduced later this 12 months.
SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship blasts off for a take a look at flight from Starbase, Texas, in October 2025. Pic: AP
SpaceX are usually not the one firm to discover the thought of placing AI information centres in house.
Google final 12 months revealed a brand new analysis venture known as Mission Suncatcher that will equip solar-powered satellites with AI pc chips.
Mississippi officers final month introduced that xAI is ready to spend $20bn (£14.6bn) to construct a knowledge centre close to the state’s border with Tennessee.
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SpaceX‘s acquisition of xAI comes weeks after X got here underneath hearth following complaints that customers have been utilizing the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, to make sexualised photographs of actual girls and kids
It prompted an investigation by the UK’s unbiased on-line security watchdog, Ofcom, and calls from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for the platform to adjust to UK legal guidelines “instantly”.
The corporate has since introduced the AI instrument will no longer be able to undress pictures of real people.
“We’ve applied technological measures to forestall the Grok account from permitting the enhancing of pictures of actual folks in revealing clothes corresponding to bikinis,” X beforehand stated in an announcement.
“This restriction applies to all customers, together with paid subscribers.”
