In its initial public offering bid, Elon Musk acknowledged that ambitious plans to establish data centers for artificial intelligence in space could prove economically unviable. The document explicitly states that "orbital AI computing and interplanetary industrialization" projects are at an early stage, involve the highest technical complexity, and use unproven technologies. This warning stands in contrast to Musk’s own earlier vocal claims that space was "the obvious and cheapest place" to host AI capabilities.

SpaceX is preparing for an IPO, which could be a record-setting event with a target of $1.75 trillion and plans to raise $75 billion. Earlier in February, the company had merged with xAI into a $1.25 trillion facility, and Musk was arguing that calculations outside the planet should be phased out due to Earth’s energy shortages and cooling problems. However, in the official application, SpaceX points to the harsh and unpredictable conditions of the space environment where critical equipment may fail.

The main bet in the implementation of these plans is on a new super-heavy rocket, the Starship, designed to drastically reduce the cost of getting cargo into orbit. But Starship itself carries significant risks: the trials are held with delays and accidents.