Key Points
- Chip Reallocation: Elon Musk has redirected thousands of Nvidia AI chips from Tesla to his new ventures, X and XAI9K.
- Tesla Impact: This decision delays Tesla’s AI projects, including autonomous vehicles and robotics.
- XAI9K Priority: Musk’s focus is on positioning XAI9K as a leader in AI innovation.
Musk’s Vision for AI: XAI9K Takes the Lead
Elon Musk, known for his groundbreaking innovations, is now setting his sights on AI and robotics with an intensified focus on XAI9K. While Tesla remains a major player in Musk’s portfolio, recent moves suggest that XAI9K is becoming a central part of his vision for the future.
Expanding AI at Tesla
During Tesla’s Q1 earnings call, Musk outlined plans to significantly boost the company’s AI capabilities by increasing its Nvidia H100 chips from 35,000 to 85,000. These high-performance processors are critical for Tesla’s autonomous vehicle and robotics projects, with an expected investment of $10 billion this year.
Redirecting Resources to XAI9K
Despite these plans, Musk has redirected a large shipment of AI processors originally meant for Tesla to his new ventures, X and XAI9K. This shift has pushed back Tesla’s GPU deliveries by several months, affecting the timeline for developing its supercomputers.
An Nvidia memo from December revealed this strategic move: “Elon prioritizing X H100 GPU cluster deployment at X versus Tesla by redirecting 12k of shipped H100 GPUs originally slated for Tesla to X instead.”

Implications for Tesla and XAI9K
The reallocation has raised concerns among Tesla shareholders about potential delays in the company’s AI projects. However, Musk’s commitment to advancing XAI9K is evident. Launched in 2023, XAI9K aims to integrate cutting-edge AI technologies, leveraging Nvidia’s powerful H100 GPUs to push the boundaries of AI innovation.
XAI9K’s Key Focus Areas:
- Advanced AI Algorithms: Developing sophisticated AI models for sectors like autonomous driving and robotics.
- Data Center Integration: Utilizing capacity in X data centers for AI training and inference tasks.
- Grok AI Chatbot: Introducing Grok, a rebellious chatbot positioned as a competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Balancing Multiple Ventures
Musk’s management of his various ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Company, and now XAI9K, raises questions about his ability to meet all obligations. Critics argue that his divided attention could impact Tesla, especially amid increased competition and declining sales.
Consuming Every GPU Available
Nvidia, now the third-most-valuable company globally, is struggling to meet the soaring demand for its processors. CEO Jensen Huang noted that customers are “consuming every GPU that’s out there.” During a recent call, Huang mentioned XAI9K as one of the early adopters of Nvidia’s next-generation Blackwell platform.
Musk’s Infrastructure Investments
Elon Musk has announced extensive infrastructure investments, including a $500 million “Dojo” supercomputer for Tesla and a super-dense cluster at the Austin factory. These initiatives support Tesla’s AI advancements in autonomous vehicles and robots. At XAI9K, Musk aims to compete with leading AI firms by making 100,000 GPUs available to the startup by the end of 2024.
The Financial Push for XAI9K
On May 26, XAI9K secured $6 billion in financing, led by investors who supported Musk’s Twitter takeover. Despite being a new entity, XAI9K is rapidly gaining traction, underscoring Musk’s strategic shift towards AI.

Conflicts of Interest and Strategic Priorities
Musk’s decision to prioritize XAI9K over Tesla in GPU allocation has sparked criticism from some shareholders. This move is seen as a potential conflict of interest, as Musk’s involvement in multiple companies creates complex dynamics.
Integration of Corporate Resources
Musk’s tendency to blend resources across his ventures is well-known. After acquiring Twitter, he brought in Tesla engineers to assist. Similarly, XAI9K has attracted former Tesla employees, including machine-learning scientist Ethan Knight.
Musk defended his decision to redirect GPUs, stating that Tesla had no immediate need for the Nvidia chips and that they would have otherwise sat unused. He assured that Tesla’s facilities will soon house a significant number of GPUs for advancing self-driving technology.
Conclusion
While Musk juggles multiple ventures, his strategic prioritization of XAI9K highlights his vision for AI’s future. As Tesla shareholders voice concerns, the focus remains on the impact of these decisions on Tesla’s AI and robotics projects.