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Elon Musk’s SpaceX acquires xAI
CALIFORNIA: Elon Musk is tightening his grip on his sprawling business empire. SpaceX is taking over his artificial intelligence start-up xAI, bringing rockets, AI, space internet and media under one roof.
SpaceX confirmed the acquisition in a memo from Musk, who cast the merger as an “innovation engine” spanning multiple frontier technologies. Terms were not disclosed, but a source familiar with the deal pegged xAI’s value at $125bn and SpaceX at $1tn, a level that would make the rocket firm the most valuable private company on the planet.
The move follows Tesla’s $2bn investment in xAI last month. Musk told Tesla investors he sees xAI as an “orchestra conductor” for factories filled with autonomous robots. He also signalled a sharp turn in strategy, saying Tesla would halt two car models to prioritise robot production, one of the company’s boldest pivots yet. Not all investors were convinced. In a prior shareholder vote, abstentions and votes against such moves outnumbered those in favour.
Speculation is also building around a SpaceX listing. Emily Zheng, senior analyst at Pitchbook, says the xAI deal bears the hallmarks of IPO preparation. The soaring cost of compute, infrastructure and energy is pushing capital-hungry tech firms towards public markets. Consolidation, she argues, helps craft a capital-efficient growth story for investors.
Musk’s ambitions stretch well beyond balance sheets. In the memo, he argued that space is the long-term answer to AI’s energy appetite. Launching AI satellites is the near-term goal; space-based data centres, he wrote, could bankroll self-sustaining Moon bases and a civilisation on Mars.
xAI itself has had a busy life. It began as a segment of X after Musk bought the platform in 2022, using its real-time data to train AI models. By spring 2025 it was spun out as an independent company and later acquired X in an all-stock deal to combine data, models, compute and distribution. Its Grok chatbot has drawn scrutiny, particularly over AI-generated images. The European Commission and Ofcom have opened investigations into X over alleged misuse to create sexualised images. xAI said in January it tightened user restrictions.
Neuralink and The Boring Company now stand as the main Musk ventures still outside his larger corporate umbrellas. For Musk, the direction of travel is clear. His companies are not just collaborating. They are converging.
In Musk’s universe, rockets, robots and algorithms are no longer separate bets. They are pieces of the same grand gamble. And he is pushing all his chips to the centre of the table.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
