Blue Origin also wants to put AI data centers in space

Editor's take

Blue Origin has submitted a proposal to the FCC for a massive constellation of over 51,000 satellites to host AI data centers in orbit. This ambitious undertaking signifies a significant escalation in the race to leverage space for advanced computing infrastructure, moving beyond mere communication or observation.

The implications are far-reaching, potentially offering a new frontier for AI training and inference, free from Earth's terrestrial constraints. Companies like Amazon (which owns AWS, a major cloud provider) and Google, already heavily invested in AI and satellite technology, will be observing this closely. The sheer scale of the proposed constellation, dwarfing even Starlink's current deployments, suggests a long-term vision for a distributed, space-based AI network.

Future developments will hinge on FCC approval and the technical feasibility of managing such a vast orbital data processing system. Key questions remain regarding power generation, thermal management, and the latency for data transfer between Earth-based users and these space-based AI hubs. The success of this project could redefine the economics and capabilities of AI, but significant engineering hurdles must be overcome.