Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, is fast - tracking SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO) plan, aiming to wrap it up before July of this year. Earlier, there were whispers in the market that SpaceX would go public in 2026, and now Musk himself has confirmed this development. Since its inception in 2002, SpaceX has steadfastly resisted going public. However, the advent of artificial intelligence has altered the landscape.

Since the AI craze took off in 2023, Musk and other visionaries have floated the concept of sending data centers into space. Yet, this ambitious idea is fraught with immense technical hurdles. To turn it into reality, a substantial influx of funds is indispensable, which makes an IPO a vital avenue for capital raising.

Moreover, Musk sees the IPO of SpaceX as a strategic move to help his AI firm, xAI, bridge the gap with its competitors. After all, xAI has already lagged behind its rivals in several key performance indicators. SpaceX is anticipated to soon hand - pick the lead underwriting banks for the IPO.

Its medium - to long - term objective of establishing orbital data centers has now become a top - priority task for Musk. Company executives are of the opinion that tapping into the U.S. IPO market for funds is the most straightforward approach.

Some investors are of the view that SpaceX's IPO will act as a catalyst for xAI's growth. If SpaceX can successfully launch data centers into space, xAI is poised to become a customer. At the same time, SpaceX might also acquire a stake in xAI. Additionally, the public listing of stocks will offer investors a greater sense of security.