SpaceX reportedly is already showing investors a prototype of what could become its AI-focused handset. The device looks like a slim smartphone that’s even thinner than an iPhone, runs its own operating system, and is powered by AI from Elon Musk’s company, xAI.
The device is still in the early stages of development, and SpaceX has cautioned investors that both the design and the final product could change. The company has not decided whether it will ultimately bring the device to market. SpaceX and Qualcomm declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment.
The project shows Musk’s push to control the entire AI experience, from the device itself to the software running on it. Right now, xAI’s chatbot mostly lives on iPhones and Android phones, so it still relies on platforms Musk doesn’t own. A dedicated device could change that.
Some SpaceX and Tesla investors say Musk has long discussed building a consumer device that brings together products and services from across his companies. The idea is to create a single platform for AI, communication, and other features while reducing dependence on third-party ecosystems.
The concept is consistent with Musk’s vision for an “everything app,” an idea he has promoted since acquiring Twitter, now X, in 2022. People familiar with the prototype say the device is designed to combine messaging, payments, and other services into a single platform.
The model is already well established in parts of Asia, where platforms such as WeChat and Alipay allow users to manage everything from messaging to payments without leaving the app. More recently, companies have begun adding AI capabilities, turning these platforms into central hubs for completing everyday tasks.
SpaceX seems to be taking the idea a step further by combining the software with its own hardware. Since the company already operates the Starlink satellite network and works with carriers like T-Mobile to provide internet and limited cellular service, a future device could connect straight to SpaceX’s own infrastructure.
Musk has offered conflicting comments about the possibility of entering the smartphone market. In February, he denied reports that SpaceX was building a phone, writing on X, “We are not developing a phone.” He has also downplayed the idea in public, saying last October, “The idea of making a phone makes me want to die. But if we have to make a phone, we will.”
Entering the smartphone market would be a significant challenge. The industry is dominated by a handful of established companies, leaving newcomers to overcome major hurdles in manufacturing, software, and developer adoption.
Other companies are also exploring AI-first hardware. OpenAI is developing its own AI-focused devices, while ByteDance has already released a smartphone designed around its Doubao AI model.
At this stage, SpaceX’s device is still only a concept. However, it shows that the AI race is no longer only about software; it’s also about the devices people use every day, with companies trying to own both the hardware and the AI running on it.
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