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   Elon Musk says a 'sentient sun' built from a million satellites is the aim of   
   the SpaceX and xAI merger - but big questions remain   
      
   AI data centers in orbit   
      
       SpaceX acquires xAI to form a new mega-company   
       Elon Musk is promising to move AI computing power into space   
       Experts are split on whether the ambitious plans can work   
      
   Elon Musk has formed the most valuable private company in the world, reportedly   
   valued at a hefty $1.25 trillion, by merging rocket-making outfit SpaceX and   
   artificial intelligence developer xAI into one mega-business ready to take AI   
   computing into orbit.   
      
   SpaceX has now acquired xAI, to create "the most ambitious,   
   vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth" - that's   
   according to the official press release penned by Elon Musk himself, CEO of   
   both companies.   
      
   This follows on from news over the weekend that SpaceX plans to launch up to a   
   million satellites into space in the coming years, ready to shift AI computing   
   infrastructure from the ground into orbit.   
      
   With an unlimited amount of room in space and power provided by solar energy   
   - at least in theory - the thinking is that our ever-growing needs for AI   
   capabilities could be met by shifting the back-end of the operation out of   
   Earth's atmosphere.   
      
   To the stars   
      
   "In the long term, space-based AI is obviously the only way to scale," says   
   Musk. "To harness even a millionth of our Sun's energy would require over a   
   million times more energy than our civilization currently uses!"   
      
   The solution is apparently to make a "sentient sun" out in space with satellite   
   constellations, according to Musk. These efforts will draw on all of the   
   expertise at SpaceX, and technologies currently used for Starlink satellites   
   and Falcon rockets.   
      
   Upcoming Starship rocket launches are scheduled to put more and more computing   
   power in orbit, and the aim is to get a terawatt of AI compute capacity   
   launched every year. In the long term, installations on the Moon are also   
   planned.   
      
   "The capabilities we unlock by making space-based data centers a reality will   
   fund and enable self-growing bases on the Moon, an entire civilization on Mars   
   and ultimately expansion to the Universe," concludes Musk.   
      
   Do the numbers add up?   
      
   As per Reuters, the deal could yet attract scrutiny from regulators, ahead of a   
   planned IPO (Initial Public Offering) for SpaceX. However, analysts believe   
   that the deal makes sense - combining revenues from both space operations and   
   AI.   
      
   Emma Wall, chief investment strategist at Hargreaves Lansdown, told the BBC   
   that the merger combined "two incredibly frontier technologies", but cautioned   
   that any benefits wouldn't be seen by users on planet Earth for at least a   
   decade.   
      
   Elon Musk isn't alone in thinking that the future of AI data centers lies in   
   space: Google, Amazon, and Nvidia are among the big tech companies that have   
   backed the idea, with Google planning an initial launch sometime in 2027.   
      
   Not everyone is convinced the numbers add up though. Space economist Pierre   
   Lionnet at Eurospace told the New York Times that the idea that space operating   
   costs would drop enough to make this work was "completely nonsensical".   
      
   Phil Metzger, a University of Central Florida physics professor, is more   
   optimistic that the economics will make sense in the short term. "As a business   
   case, it's plausible," he told the NYT. "It's been an evolving discussion."   
      
   In other words, while this ambitious plan has a long way to run, orbital AI   
   data centers are preparing for lift-off - and a new space race is brewing.   
      
      
   https://www.techradar.com/computing/elon-musk-says-a-sentient-sun-built-from-a-   
   million-satellites-is-the-aim-of-the-spacex-and-xai-merger-but-big-questions-re   
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