Overview
- SpaceX announced on Feb. 2 that it acquired xAI, making the AI developer a wholly owned subsidiary and combining rockets, Starlink and Grok under one umbrella.
- The company outlined plans for space-based data centers powered by near-constant solar energy, with Musk estimating space could be the lowest-cost source of AI compute within two to three years.
- Recent FCC filings seek authorization for up to one million solar-powered satellites configured as optically linked compute platforms, leveraging Starship to scale deployments.
- Multiple outlets report a combined valuation near $1.25 trillion with expected share pricing around $526–$527 and a potential IPO later in 2026, though the announcement disclosed no deal terms or deployment timeline.
- The merger is expected to face scrutiny over governance, valuation and national-security considerations, and it brings ongoing probes into xAI’s Grok tool in several jurisdictions into the SpaceX fold.