JAKARTA - Elon Musk has once again broken public expectations. In the midst of rumors about the "Starlink Phone" that are widely circulating, the founder of SpaceX emphasized one thing: his company is not developing a smartphone.
Only, the objection actually opened up even greater speculation - SpaceX and Starlink could be preparing a new AI device that has the potential to change the way humans interact with mobile technology.
In a short post on the X platform, Musk stated emphatically that SpaceX was not making a phone. This statement put an end to speculation about a smartphone-like device with full satellite connection.
However, Musk did not close the door completely. In an earlier statement, he said that if his company made a mobile device, the product would be optimized to run neural networks with maximum power efficiency.
The statement points to one possibility: a dedicated AI device, not a conventional phone. Instead of a large screen and social apps, the focus is on AI computing - processing artificial intelligence models locally, quickly, and energy-efficiently. If realized, this device can run AI like Grok without a major dependence on the cloud, something that is still a major limitation of the majority of today's smartphones.
Another advantage that has the potential to be a differentiator is satellite connectivity. Citing a Reuters report, future Starlink hardware can connect directly to SpaceX's satellite network.
This means global internet access without mobile towers, without SIM cards, and without geographical boundaries. SpaceX has previously tested this concept through cooperation with T-Mobile, but the special device is believed to be able to go further.
If this step is taken, Musk will indirectly challenge OpenAI and other major technology companies in the race to create an "AI-first device". OpenAI itself is working with former Apple designer Jony Ive to develop a new generation of AI devices. A number of startups are also trying to enter this segment, although many have failed to attract market interest.
SpaceX's biggest challenge is not about technology, but user habits. Smartphones may feel boring today, but they are still versatile devices that are hard to give up.
For it to succeed, Starlink-based AI devices must offer something truly irreplaceable - a combination of high-performance private AI and an internet connection that remains alive even in the most remote points on the planet.
However, Musk stressed that the project would not appear in the near future. He called the idea "not out of the question", a classic signal that the concept exists, but is still far from the commercial stage. For now, one thing is clear: SpaceX does not make mobile phones, but it could be preparing something that makes mobile phones feel obsolete.
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