SpaceX is reportedly working on an ‘AI device’ to rival the smartphone
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, SpaceX has unveiled a prototype of an AI-powered handheld device to its stakeholders. The device is described as slimmer than a typical iPhone; its design is reminiscent of a cross between a compact smartphone and a dedicated AI gadget such as the Rabbit R1. Although the company presented this concept to investors at an early stage, Elon Musk has dismissed these claims as “utterly incorrect”.
The report is considered credible by some observers, because SpaceX and Tesla have the industrial capacity to produce hardware on a large scale. Both companies also have access to the semiconductors required for this.
SpaceX’s ambition to enter the wireless sector via Starlink Mobile is aimed at challenging established providers such as AT&T and Verizon. Some market observers have even suggested that SpaceX could eventually take over a major telecoms operator, despite the enormous costs involved.
It remains uncertain whether this project is a serious commercial venture or merely at an experimental stage. However, Musk’s competitive nature suggests that he may be responding to OpenAI’s own hardware ambitions. Sam Altman’s company is working with Jony Ive, former chief designer at Apple, to create a “calmer” alternative to the smartphone. To bolster this effort, OpenAI recently brought in Paul Meade, a former Apple executive who was responsible for the Vision Pro.
Like the OpenAI project, the SpaceX prototype would probably run on its own custom operating system and make use of technology from xAI, which SpaceX integrated earlier this year. By not relying on third party platforms such as Android, the device could offer a truly native AI experience.
Even so, the market for AI hardware is risky, as previous attempts by companies like Humane and Rabbit have failed to gain a foothold. A company’s ambition to innovate does not always match consumers’ needs.
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