SpaceX Seeks Approval for 1 Million Solar-Powered Satellite Data Centers
SpaceX has requested federal approval to launch a constellation of up to 1 million solar-powered satellites intended to serve as data centers for artificial intelligence, according to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The company envisions these satellites as the most efficient way to meet the growing demand for AI computing power.
The filing outlines a grand vision, framing the project as a step towards becoming a Kardashev II-level civilization, one capable of harnessing the sun's full power while ensuring humanity's multi-planetary future amongst the stars.
However, The Verge argued that the FCC is unlikely to approve the request for 1 million satellites outright, suggesting the number is a starting point for negotiations. The FCC recently granted SpaceX permission to launch additional satellites.
In other tech news, Waymo is reportedly nearing completion of a $16 billion funding round that would value the robotaxi company at $110 billion, according to the Financial Times. The majority of the funding, over three-fourths, is expected to come from Alphabet, Waymo's parent company. New investors such as Dragoneer, Sequoia Capital, and DST Global are reportedly participating, along with existing backers Andreessen Horowitz and Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala. A Waymo spokesperson stated, "While we don’t comment on private financial matters, our trajectory is clear: with over 20 million trips completed, we are focused on the safety-led operational excellence."
Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed a report of friction between his company and OpenAI, calling it "nonsense." The Wall Street Journal reported that Nvidia was considering scaling back its investment in OpenAI, despite announcing a plan in September to invest up to $100 billion and build 10 gigawatts of computing infrastructure for the AI company. The WSJ claimed Huang had expressed concerns about OpenAI's business strategy and competitors. The report also stated that the two companies were rethinking their relationship.
In Europe, January saw the emergence of five new unicorns, tech startups valued above $1 billion, according to TechCrunch. These startups are based in locations ranging from Belgium to Ukraine. TechCrunch noted that some of these companies may be incorporated outside of Europe but have significant roots or teams within the continent. "Valuation doesn’t equal commercial success, and it is too early to tell whether all of these companies will achieve the kind of traction that Lovable has," TechCrunch stated.
Finally, Selina Tobaccowala, former president and CTO of SurveyMonkey, launched HomeBoost, an app designed to help users save on their utility bills. Tobaccowala was inspired by her daughter's efforts to conserve energy at home. "I saw the kids and thought, Let me see if there’s something there on the sustainability and climate side," Tobaccowala told TechCrunch. She conducted surveys to understand where people were struggling to lower their energy consumption. "Given my love of surveys, I surveyed a ton – a ton – of customers," she said.
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