Sam Altman challenges Musk's space data centre dream

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly challenged Elon Musk's vision for orbital computing, arguing that underwater infrastructure could solve AI's power crisis more efficiently than deploying servers in space.

Speaking on the TBPN technology podcast, Altman said the engineering hurdles for space-based systems remain severe, even as SpaceX and Google pursue satellite-based computing projects.

Google and SpaceX are reportedly in advanced talks over a rocket launch deal to deploy orbital data centers, according to Wall Street Journal sources. Google CEO Sundar Pichai previously outlined plans to launch "tiny racks of machines" in satellites within the next decade.

Meanwhile, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has predicted that space will become the cheapest location for AI infrastructure within three years. These projects reflect growing desperation in the tech industry to solve a mounting crisis.

Two key issues were pointed out by Altman, the creation of energy and the costs of infrastructure.

"It feels easier than constructing space data centers," he says, stating that even though space facilities cannot be subject to the laws of any countries on Earth, they do not have any means of getting cooled properly or powered.

While ocean robotics research presents another promising direction which has not been utilized in computing before, it could provide an easy way to bypass all difficulties related to creating space facilities.

Today the semiconductor industry is under tremendous pressure.

With the constant need for computing power increasing, companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google continue expanding their land facilities while looking for non-conventional options.