SpaceX’s Speculated AI Device: A New Frontier or Mere Speculation?
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has shown investors a prototype of a “cell phone-like” AI device, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The prototype is reportedly slimmer and sleeker than an iPhone, making us wonder if it’s something between a small touchscreen phone and a Rabbit R1. SpaceX reportedly showed the device to investors and stakeholders before it went public, telling them that it was at such an early stage that the design could still change.
Elon Musk’s Denial and the Industry’s Response
Musk has disputed the reporting, calling it “completely false.”
SpaceX, along with sister company Tesla, has the manufacturing know-how to mass-produce a range of AI devices – not to mention access to the chips needed to power any computing power on the device. SpaceX has also signaled that it is interested in expanding into wireless, with Starlink Mobile a potential competitor to Verizon and AT&T. One analyst even went so far as to speculate that T-Mobile or AT&T would be good acquisition targets for the rocket manufacturer, although such a purchase would undoubtedly be expensive.
The Uncertain Path Forward
It’s also not clear whether SpaceX is just throwing spaghetti at the wall or whether it will try to truly mass-produce and market such a device. However, one thing seems clearer: if OpenAI does this, perhaps Musk would try to do it better.
As we know, OpenAI is working with Jony Ive, Apple’s former chief design officer, on an AI device that CEO Sam Altman has claimed is more peaceful than an iPhone. Reports from last fall suggested the company was struggling to get the details right, and OpenAI recently hired another Apple executive to potentially help move things along. Last week it was announced that Paul Meade, Apple’s vice president in charge of the Vision Pro headset, had joined OpenAI’s hardware team.
Innovative Technology and Market Challenges
Like OpenAI, SpaceX’s prototype is reportedly designed to run on a proprietary operating system and integrate technology from xAI, Musk’s AI company that SpaceX acquired earlier this year. This would prevent these new devices from becoming trapped in another company’s platforms (like Google’s Android). But the intention also seems to be to create something new, with native AI interfaces. However, the graveyard is full of unsuccessful AI device launches from companies like Humane and Rabbit. A company wanting to sell an AI device doesn’t mean consumers want to buy one. Still.
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