SpaceX–xAI merger: Robin Schaffner’s analysis in Le Temps

The recent announcement of a merger between SpaceX and xAI, two emblematic companies founded by Elon Musk, has sparked widespread reaction. Valued at over USD 1 trillion, the deal illustrates the scale of the American billionaire’s ambitions, at the crossroads of artificial intelligence, space and digital infrastructure.

In this context, Robin Schaffner spoke to Le Temps to shed light on the economic and strategic stakes of this unprecedented transaction.

A clear strategy of vertical integration

Interviewed by Le Temps, Robin Schaffner emphasises that the transaction fits into a well-established pattern in Elon Musk’s entrepreneurial track record:

“Vertical integration is a hallmark of Elon Musk’s entrepreneurial journey. In this context, the potential synergies may appear compelling, provided that their economic viability materialises.”

In his view, SpaceX could notably provide xAI with strategic access to new data sources via Starlink, the group’s satellite network. Bloomberg has also pointed to a recent change in Starlink’s privacy policy, paving the way for the use of certain data to train artificial intelligence models, with possible data sharing in the event of a merger.

Data centres in space: between vision and constraints

Another striking topic discussed in Le Temps is the prospect of space-based data centres.

Robin Schaffner notes that this idea, often seen as highly futuristic, is already the subject of concrete initiatives:

“Several companies — including SpaceX, but also Google and some Chinese players, are considering moving part of their computing and storage capacity into space, where solar energy is more stable.”

In Europe, the ASCEND project, led by Thales Alenia Space, is exploring this avenue as a means to strengthen digital sovereignty and reduce emissions. However, the challenges remain significant: to be environmentally relevant, launch vehicles would need a carbon footprint ten times lower than current solutions.

In the short term, only small-scale pilot projects appear realistic, far from any industrial deployment.

Link to the article (french only)