SpaceX develops AI prototype with phone-like capabilities
▼ Summary
– SpaceX has shown investors a prototype of a slimmer-than-iPhone AI device, though Elon Musk has denied the reporting.
– SpaceX and Tesla have the manufacturing and chip expertise to mass-produce AI devices, and Starlink Mobile signals expansion into wireless.
– It is unclear if SpaceX will mass-produce and market the device, but Musk may be motivated to compete with OpenAI’s AI device project.
– OpenAI is developing its own AI device with former Apple designer Jony Ive and has hired Apple’s Vision Pro VP to aid progress.
– SpaceX’s prototype is designed to run on a proprietary OS and integrate xAI technology, avoiding dependence on platforms like Android.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has reportedly shown investors a prototype for a handheld AI device that resembles a smartphone, according to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal. The prototype is described as sleeker and thinner than an iPhone, sparking comparisons to a compact touchscreen phone or a device like the Rabbit R1. SpaceX presented the concept to investors and stakeholders before it became public, noting that the design remains in an early stage and could still evolve significantly.
Musk himself has denied the claims, calling the report “utterly false.”
Still, SpaceX and its sibling company Tesla possess the manufacturing muscle and supply chain expertise to mass-produce such devices at scale. They also have access to the advanced chips necessary for on-device computing. SpaceX has already signaled ambitions in the wireless space through Starlink Mobile, which could eventually compete with major carriers like Verizon and AT&T. One analyst even speculated that T-Mobile or AT&T could become acquisition targets for the rocket builder, though the price tag would be staggering.
It remains unclear whether SpaceX is simply exploring ideas or genuinely intends to bring a consumer AI device to market. But one pattern is hard to ignore: if OpenAI is developing an AI device, Musk may want to build a better one.
OpenAI has been working with Jony Ive, Apple’s former chief design officer, on an AI gadget that CEO Sam Altman has said will be more peaceful than an iPhone. Reports from last autumn indicated the company has struggled with design details, and OpenAI recently hired another Apple executive to help move the project forward. Last week, news broke that Paul Meade, Apple’s VP in charge of the Vision Pro headset, has joined OpenAI’s hardware team.
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 approach would prevent the device from being locked into platforms like Google’s Android. The goal appears to be creating something entirely new, with native AI interfaces at its core.
But the path is littered with failures. Companies like Humane and Rabbit have launched AI devices that failed to gain traction. A company’s desire to sell an AI gadget does not automatically mean consumers want to buy one. Not yet.
(Source: TechCrunch)
