Monday, February 23, 2026

Sam Altman of OpenAI Challenges Elon Musk’s Vision for Space Data Centers

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has cast doubt on the feasibility of Elon Musk’s orbital data centre plans, labeling them impractical due to high launch costs and technical challenges. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Altman remarked, “Putting data centres in space with the current landscape is ridiculous,” while acknowledging a future potential. Musk argues that space is the most cost-effective location for AI data centres, with plans to establish a satellite network via SpaceX. Meanwhile, Google is also delving into space-based data centres, targeting a 2027 timeline. CEO Sundar Pichai described this goal as a “moonshot,” aiming to use solar energy to meet AI’s growing demands. Internally referred to as Project Suncatcher, Google seeks to deploy machinery racks on satellites to pioneer this initiative, showcasing a commitment to sustainable data solutions. Both OpenAI and Google are pivotal in shaping the future of data centres with innovative, eco-friendly approaches.

Source link

Share

Read more

Local News