TechCrunch says Musk is leaning away from Earth solar for AI power

In short: A TechCrunch analysis says Elon Musk’s AI efforts are being powered more by natural gas on Earth, while SpaceX is talking up solar power in space instead.

What's going on

TechCrunch points to a shift in how Musk-linked companies talk about energy. Tesla’s long-running “Master Plan” documents have promoted moving away from fossil fuels and toward a “solar electric economy,” meaning more power from sunlight and electricity instead of oil and gas.

But the article says xAI, Musk’s AI company, is relying on natural gas turbines to power its data centers. A data center is basically a warehouse full of computers that run online services and AI, like a big engine room for the internet. TechCrunch also notes reporting that xAI plans to buy billions of dollars more in turbine equipment.

At the same time, TechCrunch highlights SpaceX’s recent public filing, which discusses solar power mostly in the context of space. SpaceX argues that solar panels in orbit could produce more energy because they can get sunlight all day and night, unlike panels on Earth that lose output at night and in bad weather.

What to watch

The big question is whether space-based power and “orbital” computing, meaning computer hardware placed in space, can be practical and affordable. TechCrunch notes that putting equipment into orbit is expensive and protecting computer chips in space is hard, like trying to run a delicate laptop outside during a storm. In the near term, the energy choices for AI data centers on Earth, including how much they rely on fossil fuels, will likely draw the most attention.

Source: TechCrunch AI