Google is becoming a member of a brand new type of house race.
On Tuesday, CEO Sundar Pichai introduced Challenge Suncatcher, a “analysis moonshot” that will deploy satellites geared up with Google’s customized Tensor Processing Models, which already energy a lot of Google’s AI fashions.
“Impressed by our historical past of moonshots, from quantum computing to autonomous driving,” Pichar wrote on X, “Challenge Suncatcher is exploring how we might at some point construct scalable ML compute programs in house, harnessing extra of the solar’s energy.”
Pichar added that the solar emits extra energy than 100 trillion occasions humanity’s whole electrical energy manufacturing, and that Google plans to launch two prototype satellites in early 2027, every carrying Trillium-generation TPUs to check their efficiency in low-Earth orbit.
Though the TPU chips withstood radiation simulations in a particle accelerator, Google nonetheless faces hurdles forward. In line with Google’s analysis paper, which Pichai posted in a thread, the ultimate product would contain fleets of solar-powered satellites linked by optical hyperlinks to change information, stated the paper. Pichai stated within the X publish that thermal administration and reliability are each difficult.
If the tech big might pull off the design problem, its analysis paper argues that space-based computing might at some point grow to be a scalable answer, as a result of it might run with out draining electricity and water on Earth. Google’s evaluation additionally finds that by the mid-2030s, the price to launch rockets might drop under $200 per kilogram, which doubtlessly makes sending an information middle into house cheaper than constructing one on Earth.
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Google is not the one firm pursuing this concept. Elon Musk, who owns SpaceX, stated on X on October 31 that the rocket firm might construct information facilities for AI in house, whereas a startup known as Starcloud launched its first satellite tv for pc geared up with Nvidia’s GPU earlier in November.
“Nice thought lol,” Musk commented on X below the Challenge Suncatcher’s announcement.
“Solely potential due to SpaceX’s large advances in launch know-how!” Pichai responded.
Google and SpaceX didn’t instantly reply to requests for feedback.
