Elon Musk has indicated that SpaceXAI could be renamed SpaceXSI as the company increasingly uses the term “super intelligence” for its artificial intelligence work.
The possible branding change comes after the US government began promoting “super intelligence,” or SI, as an alternative term for artificial intelligence. Musk subsequently described SpaceX as a “super intelligence company” and expressed support for changing the name of its AI focused operation.
The rebrand has not been formally completed, so SpaceXSI should currently be treated as a possible future name rather than a confirmed corporate change.
At the same time, SpaceX and Tesla are reportedly discussing potential cooperation with TSMC on the companies' ambitious Terafab semiconductor manufacturing project.
SpaceX and Tesla Explore TSMC Role in Terafab
Musk confirmed that discussions with TSMC are taking place, while cautioning that there is no finalized agreement yet.
Terafab is being developed as a large semiconductor manufacturing initiative intended to support the enormous computing requirements of Tesla and SpaceX. Its long term target is reportedly at least one terawatt of AI computing capacity each year.
That capacity could eventually support several demanding applications, including Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots, autonomous driving technology and AI computing infrastructure deployed for SpaceX operations.
| Terafab detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Participants | SpaceX and Tesla |
| Initial location | Grimes County, Texas |
| Phase one investment | About $16.8 billion |
| Estimated full project cost | Potentially above $100 billion |
| Planned annual AI compute | At least 1 terawatt |
| Existing semiconductor partner | Intel |
| TSMC involvement | Discussions underway |
| Main intended workloads | Optimus, autonomous vehicles and space based AI infrastructure |
The first phase of Terafab is reportedly under construction in Grimes County, Texas, with an initial investment of about $16.8 billion.
The project's eventual cost could exceed $100 billion if it reaches its proposed scale.
Intel joined the initiative earlier in 2026 and is expected to contribute advanced semiconductor manufacturing and packaging technology, including its 14A process.
TSMC could provide an additional manufacturing path if the ongoing discussions produce an agreement.
One possibility under consideration reportedly involves TSMC operating manufacturing capacity in Texas while Terafab becomes a major customer. Such an arrangement could involve long term purchasing commitments, an equity structure or a combination of both.
Musk has so far characterized the discussions cautiously, saying that talks are happening but that something may or may not develop from them.
Semiconductor Supply Is Central to Musk's AI Plans
Securing chip production has become increasingly important as Musk's companies expand their AI infrastructure.
SpaceXAI relies heavily on NVIDIA computing hardware, while NVIDIA's most advanced GPUs are manufactured through TSMC. A closer relationship with TSMC could therefore provide SpaceX and Tesla with another way to secure future semiconductor capacity.
The economics remain complicated.
Manufacturing advanced chips in the United States can be considerably more expensive than producing them in Taiwan. TSMC has previously indicated that wafer production at its Arizona facilities carries substantially higher costs than comparable manufacturing in Taiwan.
Expanding further in the United States could therefore increase production expenses even as it improves domestic manufacturing capacity and supply security.
The possible SpaceXSI branding change is much less capital intensive, but it reflects how Musk is positioning AI across his businesses. His description of SpaceX as a super intelligence company suggests that AI infrastructure is becoming increasingly connected with the company's broader plans rather than remaining a separate software effort.
Neither the SpaceXSI name nor a TSMC Terafab partnership has been finalized. The more significant development for now is that SpaceX and Tesla are actively considering additional semiconductor partnerships as the scale and cost of their planned AI infrastructure continue to grow.
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