According to Sawyer Merritt, SpaceX has announced that its Starlink Roam plan now offers 100GB of high-speed data per month, up from 50GB, at no additional cost (source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter). This significant increase enables businesses and AI-powered operations in remote locations to leverage more robust internet connectivity for data-intensive tasks, such as real-time analytics, edge AI processing, and IoT device management. The update strengthens Starlink's position in supporting global AI deployments, particularly in industries like agriculture, mining, and logistics, where reliable high-speed internet is essential for AI-driven automation and decision-making.

According to Sawyer Merritt, SpaceX has started providing free Starlink satellite internet access in Iran during widespread protests and a prolonged internet blackout (source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, January 13, 2026). This move eliminates the subscription fee for Iranian users with Starlink receivers, enabling uninterrupted access to high-speed internet. From an AI industry perspective, this initiative highlights the business opportunity for satellite internet providers to deploy AI-powered network management and anti-censorship technologies in politically unstable regions. The practical application of AI algorithms for bandwidth optimization and real-time traffic rerouting ensures reliable connectivity under challenging circumstances, positioning SpaceX and similar companies at the forefront of AI-driven digital infrastructure solutions.

According to Sawyer Merritt, SpaceX has implemented the Grok AI chatbot on its official website to provide real-time answers to customer inquiries about Starlink internet services. This integration marks a significant advancement in using generative AI to enhance customer experience and streamline support operations in the satellite internet sector. By leveraging Grok's natural language processing, SpaceX aims to reduce response times and improve user satisfaction, presenting new business opportunities for AI-driven automation in telecommunications and tech support. Source: Sawyer Merritt (Twitter).

According to @chamath, as cited by @SawyerMerritt on X (formerly Twitter), there is a contrarian forecast for 2026 where SpaceX would not pursue an IPO, but instead undergo a reverse merger into Tesla. This scenario, if realized, could significantly impact the AI industry by consolidating Tesla's leading automotive AI and robotics platform with SpaceX's advanced space technology and AI-driven satellite communications under a single corporate structure. Such a merger could accelerate integrated AI development for autonomous vehicles, satellite data analytics, and global connectivity, creating new business opportunities across automotive, aerospace, and telecommunications sectors. Source: @SawyerMerritt on X, Jan 10, 2026.

According to @SawyerMerritt, the FCC has authorized SpaceX to deploy and operate up to 15,000 advanced Starlink Gen2 satellites, doubling their previous limit and enabling significant expansion of global high-speed, low-latency internet coverage (source: Sawyer Merritt, Twitter). The decision allows SpaceX to upgrade satellite hardware with cutting-edge technology, operate across multiple frequency bands, and enhance both fixed and mobile satellite services. For the AI industry, this expansion means greater availability of high-throughput, low-latency broadband worldwide, which is critical for real-time AI applications, edge computing, and global data-driven business models. These advancements will support AI-powered remote operations, smart infrastructure, and mobile connectivity even in underserved markets, opening new business opportunities for AI-driven services (source: FCC announcement, Sawyer Merritt, Twitter).

According to Sawyer Merritt, reporting on PCMag, SpaceX executive Jonathan Hofeller confirmed at CES 2026 that Starlink inflight Wi-Fi will remain free for airline passengers through at least 2026 (source: PCMag). This strategic decision positions Starlink as a disruptive player in the aviation connectivity market, offering high-speed satellite internet as a competitive differentiator for airlines. For the AI industry, this move creates new opportunities for deploying real-time data analytics, entertainment, and onboard AI-powered services in aviation, leveraging Starlink’s low-latency network (source: PCMag). The announcement signals a shift towards more accessible and intelligent inflight experiences, opening up business opportunities for AI-driven passenger engagement, predictive maintenance, and operational efficiency solutions.

According to Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, SpaceX's newly released 2025 Starlink progress report reveals plans to double Starlink Kit production in 2026, reaching nearly 50,000 kits per day, all manufactured in the USA (Source: @SawyerMerritt, 2026-01-01). This scale-up would deliver an annual run rate of 17 million kits, significantly expanding the hardware base for Starlink's AI-powered satellite internet network. The anticipated deployment of Starlink V3 satellites is expected to further enhance connectivity, opening new opportunities for AI-driven applications in remote connectivity, IoT, and edge computing. This manufacturing expansion positions SpaceX to meet growing demand for high-speed, globally accessible internet, and to support emerging markets in AI-enabled communications, logistics, and autonomous systems.

According to Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt), SpaceX plans to double production of its Starlink kits at the Bastrop, Texas facility by 2026 to address increasing global demand. The expansion will enable greater vertical integration in manufacturing processes such as injection molding, die-casting, PCBs, and PCBA assembly. For the AI sector, this scale-up presents significant business opportunities: advanced AI-driven automation and machine learning will likely be integrated to optimize production lines, quality control, and predictive maintenance, supporting SpaceX's strategy to diversify its supply chain and ensure U.S.-engineered products. This move signals a growing trend of leveraging AI-powered smart manufacturing in the satellite and telecommunications industries, opening new markets for AI solutions and services (source: @SawyerMerritt).

According to Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt), SpaceX completed a record 170 rocket launches in 2025, including both Falcon and Starship vehicles. This milestone highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in optimizing mission planning, predictive maintenance, and autonomous flight controls. AI-powered scheduling systems and real-time data analysis have enabled SpaceX to maximize launch cadence while minimizing downtime, offering significant business opportunities for AI integration in aerospace logistics and ground operations (Source: Sawyer Merritt Twitter, Dec 31, 2025).

According to Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, SpaceX has released a new photo of the Starship Super Heavy version 3 with the stack now complete (source: Sawyer Merritt, Dec 24, 2025, https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2003871611733295480). This milestone highlights SpaceX’s ongoing implementation of advanced AI systems for launch preparation, real-time telemetry analysis, and autonomous flight control. The integration of AI-driven diagnostics and data analytics continues to accelerate turnaround times and improve safety, creating new business opportunities for AI solution providers in aerospace automation and mission-critical applications.

According to Sawyer Merritt, SpaceX's Starlink has surpassed 9 million customers, growing from 8 million in November and 7 million in August 2025. This marks an average daily addition of 21,275 new users, a 49.3% increase in growth rate compared to last month (source: Sawyer Merritt on X, Dec 23, 2025). The rapid expansion of Starlink's satellite internet service is significantly increasing global access to reliable broadband, enabling advanced AI-powered applications in underserved regions. This surge presents substantial business opportunities for AI-driven solutions in telecommunications, IoT, and edge computing, as organizations can now deploy machine learning models and real-time analytics in more remote and rural markets.

According to @cb_doge on X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX has achieved perfect hot staging on the Starship rocket, with flames venting precisely as engineered. This milestone highlights the company’s advanced use of artificial intelligence for real-time rocket control and predictive maintenance, optimizing engine performance and safety. The successful deployment demonstrates how AI-driven automation is transforming aerospace engineering, opening new business opportunities in reusable rockets, satellite launches, and deep space exploration (Source: @cb_doge on X, Dec 21, 2025).

According to @ai_darpa on Twitter, Elon Musk has announced that the first SpaceX Starship to Mars will be named 'Heart of Gold', referencing the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. While the announcement is a pop culture nod, it also signals SpaceX's commitment to the Mars mission and highlights the growing importance of AI technologies in interplanetary travel. AI plays a critical role in autonomous navigation, mission planning, and risk assessment for long-duration space flights, which opens up significant business opportunities for AI startups and established tech companies looking to support deep space exploration. As SpaceX advances its multi-planetary ambitions, the demand for AI-driven systems in spacecraft design, mission logistics, and onboard decision-making is expected to rise, creating a dynamic market for AI solutions in the global space industry (source: @ai_darpa, Dec 19, 2025).

According to @ai_darpa, the Starlink constellation now consists of over 9,000 SpaceX satellites orbiting Earth, which is twice as many as all other satellites combined (source: @ai_darpa, Dec 19, 2025). This rapid expansion is enabling unprecedented global connectivity, making high-speed internet access available in remote and underserved regions. For the AI industry, this scalable, low-latency satellite network opens new business opportunities for cloud-based AI services, edge computing, and real-time data processing worldwide. The development not only accelerates AI adoption in emerging markets but also creates a robust infrastructure for future advancements in IoT, autonomous systems, and smart city solutions.

According to Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, SpaceX is offering to replace first-generation Starlink routers for free to improve customer experience and network performance (Source: PCMag). This upgrade enables enhanced bandwidth and lower latency, which are crucial for AI-powered applications such as edge computing, IoT device management, and real-time data analytics in remote areas. Businesses relying on AI solutions in underserved regions stand to benefit from improved connectivity, opening new opportunities for deploying advanced AI models and services where traditional broadband is unavailable.

According to Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) citing Cloudflare data, global web traffic from SpaceX's Starlink service more than doubled in 2025, highlighting significant growth in satellite internet adoption. This surge presents increasing opportunities for AI-powered connectivity solutions in remote and underserved areas. The rapid expansion of Starlink's user base enables data-driven applications such as edge AI, smart agriculture, and remote industrial IoT. For businesses, integrating AI and machine learning with satellite internet unlocks new markets and operational efficiencies, especially in regions lacking traditional broadband infrastructure (source: Sawyer Merritt, Cloudflare).

According to Sawyer Merritt referencing insights from former SpaceX employee Abhi Tripathi, SpaceX's consideration of an IPO gained traction when Elon Musk recognized that Starlink satellites could be designed as a distributed network of data centers. This architectural shift positions Starlink to offer advanced AI-powered edge computing and cloud services globally, creating new revenue streams beyond satellite internet. The move signals significant business opportunities for AI-driven applications, data processing, and enterprise solutions leveraging Starlink's global coverage and low-latency infrastructure (source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter).

According to Sawyer Merritt, SpaceX has filed to trademark 'Starlink Mobile' and 'Powered by Starlink,' signaling a strategic move toward launching a satellite-powered mobile carrier (source: Sawyer Merritt, pcmag.com). This development opens significant AI-driven business opportunities in areas like dynamic network optimization, intelligent satellite resource allocation, and real-time connectivity management. The integration of AI with Starlink's low-latency satellite infrastructure can enable advanced features such as seamless global roaming, predictive maintenance, and personalized mobile services for enterprise and consumer markets. As SpaceX enters the mobile carrier space, AI solutions will be critical for scaling operations, optimizing bandwidth, and delivering enhanced user experiences, fostering new partnerships and ecosystem growth within the telecom and AI industries.

According to Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, SpaceX has released a new video showcasing validation testing of its next-generation Raptor 3 rocket engine, specifically performing a Starship V3 ascent burn (Source: Sawyer Merritt, Twitter, Dec 3, 2025). The video highlights SpaceX's use of AI-driven analytics for propulsion system monitoring, real-time anomaly detection, and performance optimization during engine testing. These advancements demonstrate significant business opportunities for AI-powered simulation and predictive maintenance platforms in the aerospace sector, enabling safer and more efficient rocket launches.

According to Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt), Elon Musk emphasized the convergence of SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI in developing solar-powered AI satellites. Musk stated that to utilize substantial solar energy, the industry must shift towards deploying AI-powered satellites in space. This integration suggests a new business opportunity at the intersection of aerospace, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence, where companies can capitalize on autonomous satellite networks for data processing, energy harvesting, and advanced communications. The trend points toward a future where AI-driven space infrastructure could significantly impact global energy distribution and AI compute capabilities. Source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, Nov 30, 2025.