Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, is set to bring his xAI technology to Memphis. The city, known for its vibrant blues music scene, is set to host what officials are calling “the world’s largest supercomputer,” which will power Musk’s xAI project. This investment represents the largest multi-billion-dollar commitment by a new company in Memphis’ history, according to Ted Townsend, the president and CEO of Greater Memphis Chamber.
Despite the significant investment, reports suggest that only a few hundred new jobs will be created as a result of this development. The xAI supercomputer will primarily support Musk’s companies, particularly Tesla and SpaceX, by providing the computational power necessary for ambitious projects like human missions to Mars.
Tennessee already houses a powerful supercomputer, Frontier, capable of performing one quintillion calculations per second. This technology has been instrumental in scientific advancements, including the development of drugs to combat diseases like COVID-19. However, Musk’s xAI project aims to surpass these capabilities in Memphis by creating the world’s largest supercomputer.
While Memphis stands to benefit from Musk’s investment and presence in the city, competition is on the horizon. Aurora, a supercomputer being built near Chicago, is expected to surpass the capabilities of Musk’s xAI project. Memphis is hopeful that Musk’s selection of the city will boost its reputation as a technology hub and attract more investment in the future.
Musk founded xAI last year and investors have reportedly contributed up to $6 billion to the company so far. With this massive investment coming into Memphis’ economy, there’s no doubt that it will make an impact on
