AI Applied: Covering AI News, Interviews and Tools - ChatGPT, Midjourney, Gemini, OpenAI, Anthropic The Merger of SpaceX and XAI
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Feb 17, 2026 They unpack the SpaceX–XAI merger and what a union like that could mean for AI infrastructure. The conversation explores the radical idea of launching data centers into orbit and the logistics behind in-house versus cloud compute. They debate environmental and solar-power advantages of space-based compute and ponder manufacturing, regulatory hurdles, and the future of AI in space exploration.
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Musk As A Modern Da Vinci
- Conor compared Elon Musk to Leonardo da Vinci to emphasize his outsized historical impact.
- He framed Musk as a controversial but extraordinarily productive figure with a track record across multiple industries.
Space-Based Data Centers As A Scalability Fix
- SpaceX and XAI merged to pursue orbital data centers as a solution to compute and energy limits on Earth.
- Launching compute to space could ease cooling and harness stronger solar power outside the atmosphere.
Owning Compute Enabled The Space Plan
- XAI built its own data centers and procured NVIDIA chips to train Grok instead of outsourcing to cloud providers.
- Owning training infrastructure gives XAI experience that enables a move toward orbital compute deployment.