OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has criticized the feasibility of space-based data centers, deeming the concept “ridiculous.” His comments, made during an interview in New Delhi, challenge the ambitions of rivals like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and various startups pursuing orbital GPU placements. Altman highlighted the economic impracticality, noting high launch costs and the challenges of repairing malfunctioning hardware in space. He pointed out that cooling issues in a vacuum complicate the operations, requiring extensive infrastructure like large radiator panels. While Musk aims to deploy a million satellites for this purpose, Altman’s skepticism is further echoed by Google’s Project Suncatcher and Bezos’s Project Prometheus. Although he left room for future possibilities, he asserted that current costs and technological hurdles make orbital data centers unviable for the foreseeable decade. Ultimately, Altman’s insights signal a cautious approach to space computing, emphasizing the need for viability in economic terms before any serious implementation occurs.
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