Report says SpaceX showed investors a handset-like AI device

In short: A report says SpaceX privately showed investors a phone-like AI device prototype, but Elon Musk denied it.

What happened

TechCrunch reports that The Wall Street Journal said SpaceX showed investors a prototype of a “handset-like” AI device before the company went public. The device was described as sleek and slim, and the report said it was still early enough that the design could change.

Elon Musk responded on X and called the reporting “utterly false.” SpaceX has not shared public details about any such device.

The report also said the device would run its own operating system, which is the basic software that makes a device work (like the “rules and buttons” that run a phone). It would also connect with technology from xAI, Musk’s AI company, which SpaceX reportedly acquired earlier this year.

Why it matters

If SpaceX is exploring a phone-like AI device, it would be a sign the company may want to do more than rockets and satellite internet. SpaceX has already hinted it wants to expand into wireless service, including Starlink Mobile, which could put it in more direct competition with major phone carriers.

It also shows how many companies are trying to find a new kind of personal gadget built around AI, not just apps on existing phones. Some past attempts, like Humane and Rabbit, have struggled to win customers, so it is still unclear whether people actually want a separate AI device.

Source: TechCrunch AI