Last week, SpaceX founder Elon Musk advised workers at the newly acquired company xAI that he wants to set up a factory on the moon to build artificial intelligence (AI) satellites. And he called for a colossal catapult on the lunar surface to fling them into space.
"My estimate is that, within two to three years, the lowest-cost way to generate AI compute will be in space," Elon Musk wrote in a Feb. 2 update that announced SpaceX's acquisition of xAI.
He reinforced that belief on Feb. 11 in an all-hands meeting with xAI staff, video of which the company posted on X. Musk said that, while launching AI satellites from Earth is the immediate focus, SpaceX's new Starship megarocket will also enable operations on other worlds.
Moon cargo
"Thanks to advancements like in-space propellant transfer," Musk wrote in the Feb. 2 update, "Starship will be capable of landing massive amounts of cargo on the moon. Once there, it will be possible to establish a permanent presence for scientific and manufacturing pursuits."
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