Alphabet, SpaceX set to launch AI chips into orbit today
Technology
Google's parent company, Alphabet, is teaming up with SpaceX to launch its homegrown AI chips into orbit today (October 1, 2026).
Alphabet's moonshot initiative, Project Suncatcher, will use a Falcon 9 rocket from California and aims to power machine learning using solar energy collected in space.
Alphabet's Project Suncatcher tests orbital efficiency
Project Suncatcher wants to see if running data centers in space can be more efficient than on Earth by tapping into near-constant sunlight.
A solar-powered satellite loaded with Google's tensor processing units (TPUs) will do the heavy lifting up there.
While there are challenges like high costs and tough conditions in orbit, both Alphabet and SpaceX believe this could change how we train AI, and the live launch is scheduled for 11:15am PT.