As artificial intelligence becomes more powerful, tech companies are searching for new ways to support it. Since AI systems need huge amounts of computing power, electricity, and space. To solve this problem, some of the biggest names in technology, including Elon Musk and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, are looking beyond Earth. Their idea is to build data centres in space.
Why Build Data Centres in Space?
Data centres on Earth consume massive amounts of electricity and land. They also create heat and put pressure on local power grids. Space offers a different solution. Solar energy is easily available in orbit, and there are no land limitations. Space-based data centres could run continuously on solar power and handle heavy AI workloads without stressing Earth’s resources.
Companies believe this could be a long-term answer to the growing demand for AI computing. With satellites and advanced space technology already in use, the idea no longer sounds like science fiction.
New Warning from the AI Industry?
However, not everyone is convinced this plan will succeed. Aravind Srinivas, CEO of AI company Perplexity, has warned that these expensive projects may face a serious threat. According to him, the biggest danger is not competition, but a shift in how AI works. Speaking on Prakhar Gupta’s YouTube podcast, Srinivas said the biggest threat to data centres comes from the growing capabilities of powerful on-device AI.
Srinivas believes that in the future, AI will run directly on personal devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets. This approach is called on-device AI. If AI can work efficiently on individual devices, the need for giant data centres—whether on Earth or in space—could reduce sharply.
What Is On-Device AI?
On-device AI means that data is processed directly on your phone or computer instead of being sent to a far-away server. This has several benefits. It improves privacy because personal data stays with the user. It also makes AI faster, since there is no delay caused by internet connections. Over time, such AI systems could learn from user behaviour and become more personal and useful.
Srinivas describes this future as having a “digital brain” on every device—AI that grows smarter with daily use.
Is This Future Ready Yet?
While the idea sounds promising, on-device AI still has limits. Current devices do not have enough power to handle very complex AI tasks on their own. Large data centres are still needed for heavy processing. But technology is advancing quickly, and these limits may not last forever.
What Lies Ahead?
The race between space-based data centres and on-device AI shows how fast the tech world is changing. While some companies are looking to the skies for answers, others believe the future of AI may sit quietly in our pockets. The next few years will decide which path truly shapes the future of artificial intelligence.
