Elon Musk appears to have subtly confirmed that Tesla’s upcoming AI8 chip won’t be limited to vehicles or humanoid robots alone.

If Musk’s recent responses on X are any indication, it would appear that Tesla’s AI8 will be used by the CEO’s other companies, and its applications would literally extend out of this world.

Tesla’s AI8 could extend beyond vehicles

Musk’s update came on the heels of his recent comments, where he revealed that Tesla was not just working on its AI5 and AI6 chips. The company is also designing AI7 and AI8. This comment caught a lot of attention, with some even wondering why Tesla feels the need to design an AI8 chip when AI4 seems on track to be a good fit for autonomous driving. 

Amidst these speculations, an X user suggested that Elon Musk’s comment about AI8 being out of this world could actually be quite true in the literal sense, as it could be used as the chip for SpaceX’s orbit data centers. Musk subtly confirmed this, as he responded to the X user’s post with a bullseye emoji.

Musk’s subtle confirmation that AI8 will be used by SpaceX’s in-space data centers presents a pretty interesting future for the electric vehicle maker. Synergy among Elon Musk-led companies is nothing new, but having Tesla produce chips for SpaceX is undoubtedly something that’s never really been done before.

SpaceX’s space-based computing with Starlink V3 satellites

Musk previously stated that SpaceX plans to use its Starlink V3 satellites to develop space-based data centers. In response to an Ars Technica report on autonomous space construction, he wrote on X: “Simply scaling up Starlink V3 satellites, which have high-speed laser links, would work. SpaceX will be doing this.”

The concept, while ambitious, could address growing energy and cooling constraints facing Earth-based data centers amid the AI boom. Space-based clusters could also cut down on land and water usage, though critics have questioned their cost and maintainability.

Musk recently called the orbital data center project “a very big deal,” and given SpaceX’s history of turning improbable ideas into operational systems, it may not be too far-fetched at all, especially since SpaceX’s Starlink V3 platform is capable of up to 1 terabit per second (Tbps) throughput.

Tesla seems to be laying the groundwork for a 24/7 Robotaxi service across several states. This was hinted at by a substantial number of interesting Robotaxi-related job listings that have been posted on the company’s Careers website. 

24/7 Robotaxis and Night Shift Specialists

A look at Tesla’s official Careers website shows that the company is currently looking for multiple Robotaxi Fleet Support Specialists for the Night Shift. The listing itself describes a role focused on maintaining vehicles for “smooth 24/7 operations,” hinting at the company’s next steps in its efforts to ramp its autonomous ride-hailing service across several U.S. cities.

“We are looking for a highly motivated and passionate individual to join our Autopilot Fleet Team. As Fleet Support Specialist, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that all our vehicles are in excellent condition at all times, supporting smooth 24/7 vehicle operations,” the job listing read. 

The job opening is active in several regions, including Austin, Palo Alto, Orlando, Tampa, Doral, Houston, Dallas, Tempe, and Las Vegas, as of writing. This suggests that Tesla really is looking at a potential multi-state rollout strategy for its Robotaxi service, likely in the near future.

Musk targets major Robotaxi fleet growth by year’s end

Tesla’s Robotaxi pilot is still in early stages, but CEO Elon Musk recently hinted that substantial updates are coming soon to the Austin and Bay Area programs. Speaking on the All-In podcast, Musk said Tesla aims to expand its Robotaxi fleet to 500 vehicles in Austin and 1,000 in the Bay Area before the end of 2025.

“We’re scaling up the number of cars to, what happens if you have a thousand cars? Probably we’ll have a thousands cars or more in the Bay Area by the end of this year, probably 500 or more in the greater Austin area,” Musk said. 

With just two months left in the fourth quarter, Tesla’s AI team is facing a busy ramp-up period that could mark the company’s most ambitious real-world test of its autonomous driving program yet.

Recent reports have suggested that Tesla and Samsung SDI are in talks over a potential partnership to supply batteries for large-scale energy storage systems (ESS). 

The update was related by industry sources and initially reported by South Korean news outlets. 

ESS batteries to be built at Samsung’s Indiana plant

As noted in a report from Korea JoongAng Daily, the demand for energy storage systems has been growing rapidly in North America, thanks in no small part to the surge in AI investments across numerous companies. With this in mind, Tesla has reportedly approached Samsung SDI about a potential battery supply deal.

The deal is reportedly worth over 3 trillion Korean won (approximately $2.11 billion) and will span three years, according to The Korea Global Economic Daily. A battery supply deal with Samsung SDI could make sense for Tesla as the company already has a grid-scale battery, the Megapack, which is perfect for industrial use. Samsung SDI could simply supply cells for the EV maker.

Production of the batteries would reportedly take place at Samsung SDI’s joint venture factory with Stellantis in Indiana, which is currently under construction. Samsung SDI recently announced plans to use part of that plant’s EV lines to produce cells for ESS, with a targeted capacity of 30 GWh by the end of next year.

Tesla and Samsung’s partnership

At present, only a handful of manufacturers, including Korea’s LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On, and Japan’s Panasonic, are capable of producing energy storage-scale batteries domestically in the United States. A Samsung SDI official issued a comment about the matter, stating, “Nothing has been finalized regarding cooperation with Tesla.”

The possible energy storage system deal adds another layer to Tesla’s growing collaboration with Samsung, which is already in line as a partner in the upcoming production of Tesla’s AI5 and AI6 chips. Early sample manufacturing of the AI6 is expected to begin in South Korea, with mass production slated for Samsung’s Texas-based Taylor foundry when it starts operations.

The AI6 chip will power Tesla’s next wave of high-volume projects, including the Optimus humanoid robot and the autonomous Cybercab service. Musk has called the partnership with Samsung a “real collaboration,” adding that he personally plans to “walk the line” at the Taylor facility to speed up progress.