Elon Musk Unveils Major xAI Data Center in Saudi Arabia
Elon Musk, the CEO of xAI and Tesla, has unveiled plans for a significant data center in Saudi Arabia, marking a pivotal moment in technological collaboration between the U.S. and the Kingdom. This announcement coincides with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s official visit to the United States.
Details of the Major xAI Data Center
The new data center will have a remarkable capacity of 500 megawatts. Located in Saudi Arabia, it is being developed in partnership with HUMAIN AI, a company backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The center will utilize Nvidia’s advanced computing chips, enhancing its processing capabilities.
For context, xAI’s existing Colossus 1 data center, situated in Memphis, operates at about 300 megawatts. Comparatively, this upcoming facility in Saudi Arabia represents a leap in computing power.
Other Relevant Announcements
On the same day, Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, disclosed plans for a new 100-megawatt data center for Amazon Web Services. This facility aims for “gigawatt ambition,” also leveraging Nvidia technology.
Strategic AI Collaboration
This announcement follows a significant AI Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Saudi Arabia. This agreement provides the Kingdom access to cutting-edge American technology while ensuring U.S. innovations are safeguarded from foreign influence. The discussions were held at a high-profile event, which included Huang and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Alswaha.
Musk’s Vision for the Future
During his address, Musk outlined a future laden with AI-driven innovations, including humanoid robots and even data centers positioned in outer space. He emphasized that these humanoid robots could revolutionize labor by making work optional for many. His bold prediction suggested that, within the next four to five years, solar-powered satellites might emerge as the most economical means for AI computation.
Initially, Musk mistakenly indicated that the data center would possess a capacity of 500 gigawatts, an astronomical figure far exceeding current global data center energy consumption. He later corrected himself, humorously noting that such a project would carry an exorbitant price tag.
- Data Center Capacity: 500 megawatts
- Current xAI Data Center (Memphis): 300 megawatts
- Nvidia’s Data Center for AWS: 100 megawatts
Elon Musk’s announcement represents a significant advancement in global AI infrastructure, highlighting the growing partnership between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in this transformative field.
