Elon Musk’s SpaceX has unveiled a prototype of a handset-style device aimed at transforming how users interact with artificial intelligence, according to people familiar with the matter. The prototype was shown to select investors and stakeholders ahead of SpaceX’s anticipated initial public offering.
The device features a slim design purportedly thinner than an iPhone and operates on a proprietary system integrating AI technology developed by Musk’s xAI company. It is reported to use a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset as its hardware foundation. However, the project is said to be in an early stage, with potential design changes and no certainty that the device will reach commercial production. SpaceX and Qualcomm have not provided comments on the development.
This initiative aligns with Musk’s broader vision as he expands SpaceX’s satellite internet service Starlink, advances his rocket business, and develops AI tools. The proposed handset could serve as an integrated platform for multiple Musk ventures, potentially reducing reliance on existing smartphone manufacturers and operating systems. Currently, xAI’s chatbot is primarily accessed via Apple and Android devices.
Musk has expressed ambivalence toward producing a smartphone. Last October, he remarked, “The idea of making a phone makes me want to die,” but added, “If we have to make a phone, we will.” Earlier this year, Musk publicly denied reports that SpaceX was developing a phone capable of connecting directly to Starlink satellites, emphasizing, “We are not developing a phone.”
SpaceX’s Starlink currently offers satellite internet services, including partnerships with providers such as T-Mobile to extend cellular coverage in underserved areas. The new prototype seems influenced by Musk’s vision of an “everything app,” a concept he promoted during his acquisition of social media platform Twitter, now rebranded as X. This super-app approach integrates multiple services into a single platform, a model widely adopted in Asia by apps such as China’s WeChat and Alipay, which combine communication, financial services, and commerce in one interface.
Globally, several companies are exploring hardware designed to anchor AI-driven super apps. In the United States, OpenAI is reportedly developing AI-focused devices, while China’s ByteDance launched a smartphone powered by its AI model Doubao, intended to assist users in shopping and booking services. However, the ByteDance device has faced challenges, including restrictions imposed by competitors limiting access to their platforms.
SpaceX’s foray into smartphone-like devices emerges amid a broader industry shift toward integrating AI more deeply into everyday technology, though the ultimate scope and impact of Musk’s new project remain to be seen.