Midjourney releases image tools while Microsoft designs semiconductors

Elon Musk's SpaceX acquired his artificial intelligence firm xAI on February 2, 2026, creating a "vertically-integrated innovation engine" combining AI, rockets, and space internet. This merger supports xAI financially and enables Musk's vision to build AI data centers in space. SpaceX plans to launch one million new satellites, operating between 500 and 2,000 kilometers high, to form an orbital AI data center capable of generating up to 100 gigawatts annually using solar power. These satellites, deployed by Falcon 9 and Starship rockets, aim to support next-generation AI, though experts voice concerns about safe operation.

In the realm of AI image generation, tools like Skywork AI, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and OpenAI Images are being reviewed for creators and businesses, with Skywork AI often highlighted for its precise editing and unified workflows. Meanwhile, the Aerospace Artificial Intelligence Market is projected for significant growth, from USD 1.98 billion in 2025 to USD 71.76 billion by 2035, driven by AI applications in autonomous flight and predictive maintenance, enhancing aircraft design and safety.

The Edge AI Hardware Market is also expanding rapidly, fueled by the need for real-time data processing and ultra-low latency. Key players such as Microsoft and NVIDIA are advancing semiconductor designs for energy-efficient hardware capable of complex AI tasks at the edge, with growth anticipated through 2026. Separately, Amazon announced 16,000 corporate job cuts, sparking debate over whether AI efficiency gains are the direct cause. Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed plans for Disney+ to offer Sora AI video creation tools in fiscal 2026, allowing users to generate 30-second videos with around 250 licensed Disney characters.

Cisco anticipates a strong 2026, projecting approximately $3 billion in revenue from its AI infrastructure business, as agentic and physical AI are expected to increase network traffic significantly. The company is enhancing data center infrastructure and security offerings, including integrating Splunk. Google introduced Conductor, an open-source extension for Gemini CLI, to provide a structured, context-driven workflow for AI code generation. Despite these advancements, innovation economist Carlota Perez suggests current AI investments might be forming a financial bubble, as investors often price future possibilities as near-term certainties.

Key Takeaways

  • Elon Musk's SpaceX acquired his AI firm xAI on February 2, 2026, creating a "vertically-integrated innovation engine" combining AI, rockets, and space internet.
  • SpaceX plans to launch one million new satellites to establish an orbital AI data center, aiming for up to 100 gigawatts of annual compute capacity.
  • The Aerospace Artificial Intelligence Market is projected to grow from USD 1.98 billion in 2025 to USD 71.76 billion by 2035, driven by AI in autonomous flight and predictive maintenance.
  • The Edge AI Hardware Market is rapidly expanding, with key players like Microsoft and NVIDIA developing energy-efficient hardware for real-time AI processing.
  • Disney+ will integrate Sora AI video creation tools in fiscal 2026, allowing users to generate 30-second videos using approximately 250 licensed Disney characters.
  • Cisco expects its AI infrastructure business to generate around $3 billion in revenue in 2026, anticipating significant network traffic increases from agentic and physical AI.
  • Google released Conductor, an open-source extension for Gemini CLI, to provide a structured, context-driven workflow for AI code generation.
  • Free AI image generators like Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and OpenAI Images are available, with Skywork AI noted for precise editing and bulk generation capabilities.
  • Amazon is cutting 16,000 corporate jobs, leading to speculation about AI's role in efficiency gains, though the direct cause remains unconfirmed.
  • Innovation economist Carlota Perez suggests current AI investments may be in a financial bubble, as speculative pricing often overlooks traditional valuation metrics.

SpaceX plans one million satellites for space AI data center

Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to launch one million new satellites to create an orbital AI data center. These satellites will operate between 500 and 2,000 kilometers high, using solar power. This massive expansion aims to support next-generation artificial intelligence and could boost SpaceX's plan to go public and potentially merge with xAI, which owns the Grok chatbot. Experts express concerns about operating such a large number of satellites safely.

Elon Musk considers merging SpaceX with xAI

Elon Musk is reportedly in advanced talks to merge his rocket company SpaceX with his artificial intelligence firm xAI. Both privately held companies have informed investors about these plans, with a possible announcement this week. This merger could affect SpaceX's reported plan to go public in mid-June. Musk aims to launch AI data centers into space, using SpaceX's capabilities and seeking permission for one million satellites to harness solar power efficiently.

Elon Musk merges SpaceX with AI startup xAI

On Monday, February 2, 2026, Elon Musk's rocket and satellite company SpaceX announced it acquired his artificial intelligence firm xAI. This merger creates a "vertically-integrated innovation engine" combining AI, rockets, and space internet. The deal provides financial support for xAI and allows Musk to pursue his vision of building AI data centers in space. It also offers potential investors in SpaceX's upcoming public offering a chance to invest in the AI boom.

SpaceX acquires xAI and plans massive satellite network

SpaceX has acquired Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI, aiming to create a powerful "vertically-integrated innovation engine." This merger will support xAI's operations, including its Grok chatbot, and compete with other AI firms. SpaceX plans to deploy up to one million orbital data centers using its Falcon 9 and Starship rockets. These space-based data centers will harness solar power to provide significant AI compute capacity, potentially reaching 100 gigawatts annually.

Elon Musk merges SpaceX with AI startup xAI

On Monday, February 2, 2026, Elon Musk's rocket and satellite company SpaceX announced it acquired his artificial intelligence firm xAI. This merger creates a "vertically-integrated innovation engine" combining AI, rockets, and space internet. The deal provides financial support for xAI and allows Musk to pursue his vision of building AI data centers in space. It also offers potential investors in SpaceX's upcoming public offering a chance to invest in the AI boom.

Elon Musk merges SpaceX with AI company xAI

Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX has acquired his artificial intelligence business xAI, announced on Monday. This merger aims to create a "vertically-integrated innovation engine" combining AI, rockets, and space internet. The deal comes as SpaceX prepares for a public offering, potentially valued over $1 trillion. A key reason for the merger is Musk's plan to build space-based data centers, which he believes are essential to meet the growing electricity demand for AI.

Elon Musk confirms SpaceX xAI merger

On February 2, 2026, Elon Musk announced that he is merging his rocket company SpaceX with his artificial intelligence company xAI. This move combines his space and AI ventures under one umbrella. The merger is expected to support Musk's ambitious plans for AI development and space-based data centers.

Best free AI image generator tools reviewed

This guide reviews top free and freemium AI image generators for creators and teams. It compares tools like Skywork AI, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and OpenAI Images based on image quality, free features, editing options, and ease of use. The article highlights Skywork AI as a recommended choice for its precise editing and unified workspace. It helps users choose the best tool for their budget and workflow.

Top free AI image generators for businesses

This guide reviews the 8 best free AI image generators for enterprise teams, focusing on business needs. It evaluates tools like Skywork AI, Adobe Firefly, and OpenAI Images based on commercial licensing, API access, and governance features. The review helps marketing, design, and product teams find a solution that scales from pilot to production. Skywork AI is ranked as the top choice for its unified workflows and bulk generation capabilities.

Coda versus Notion choosing your team's workflow

This guide compares Coda and Notion, two all-in-one document tools, to help teams choose the right one by October 2026. Coda is described as an "app building kit" where tables are the core, allowing users to create applications with buttons and complex formulas. Notion is a "digital canvas" built on blocks, making it flexible for notes and wikis with easy-to-use databases. The article also introduces the "AI-native workflow" as a key factor in deciding which tool best fits a team's needs.

Aerospace AI market to hit 71 billion by 2035

The Aerospace Artificial Intelligence Market is expected to grow significantly, reaching USD 71.76 billion by 2035 from USD 1.98 billion in 2025. This growth, at a compound annual rate of 43.25 percent, is driven by the increasing use of AI in autonomous flight and predictive maintenance. AI technologies are improving aircraft design, manufacturing, and flight operations, leading to better safety and efficiency. Advancements in machine learning and computer vision are enabling sophisticated applications like AI-powered navigation and enhanced air traffic management.

Is AI truly causing job cuts at Amazon and others

Amazon announced it is cutting 16,000 corporate jobs, leading many to believe artificial intelligence is the cause due to efficiency gains. However, it is difficult to confirm if AI is the real reason for layoffs at Amazon and other companies like Pinterest and Dow. Economists and employees question if AI is genuinely driving these decisions or if it is a message companies want to convey to Wall Street. The true impact of AI on job reductions remains unclear.

Edge AI hardware market grows with real-time needs

The Edge AI Hardware Market is growing rapidly due to the increasing demand for real-time data processing close to the source. This need for ultra-low latency and local decision-making is crucial for connected devices and data privacy. Advances in semiconductor design create more energy-efficient hardware capable of handling complex AI tasks at the edge. Key players include Media Tek Inc, Imagination Technologies, Xilinx Inc, IBM, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. The market is segmented by device, processors, power consumption, end user, and geography, with growth expected through 2026.

Disney+ to offer Sora AI video creation with characters

Disney CEO Bob Iger explained how Sora's AI video tools will work on Disney+, allowing users to create 30-second videos. A three-year licensing deal enables the use of around 250 Disney characters, excluding those with human voices or faces. Iger believes this feature will boost engagement and provide shortform content, similar to offerings on ESPN, Peacock, and Netflix. Disney expects to roll out this functionality sometime in fiscal 2026.

AI boom shows signs of a financial bubble

While AI is a revolutionary technology, history suggests that current AI investments might be in a financial bubble. Innovation economist Carlota Perez notes that technological progress does not always guarantee investor profits, as seen with railroads, electricity, and the dot-com crash. Investors often price in future possibilities as near-term certainties, driven by grand expectations and storytelling. This speculative phase often ignores traditional valuation metrics, leading to inflated stock prices.

Cisco sees strong 2026 with AI and security

Cisco expects a promising 2026, driven by growth in AI infrastructure and secure networking. The company projects its AI infrastructure business to generate around $3 billion in revenue, as agentic AI and physical AI will significantly increase network traffic. Cisco is focusing on data center infrastructure, unified edge solutions, and campus network refreshes to meet this demand. Additionally, Cisco is enhancing its security offerings with a platform approach, integrating Splunk and ThousandEyes for preemptive cybersecurity, and launching the Cisco Security Cloud.

Google Conductor enhances Gemini AI coding workflow

Google has released Conductor, an open-source extension for Gemini CLI that transforms AI code generation into a structured, context-driven workflow. Conductor stores project knowledge, such as product goals and tech stack, as versioned Markdown files within the repository. This approach ensures AI behavior is repeatable and consistent across teams, unlike session-based chat coding. Conductor follows a lifecycle of Context, Spec and Plan, then Implement, creating detailed tracks for features or bug fixes.

Sources

NOTE:

This news brief was generated using AI technology (including, but not limited to, Google Gemini API, Llama, Grok, and Mistral) from aggregated news articles, with minimal to no human editing/review. It is provided for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies or biases. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please verify all information with the linked original articles in the Sources section below.

SpaceX xAI Elon Musk AI Data Centers Orbital AI Satellites Grok Chatbot AI Image Generation AI Workflow Aerospace AI Autonomous Flight Predictive Maintenance Edge AI Edge AI Hardware AI Video Creation AI Investment Financial Bubble Cisco AI Infrastructure Secure Networking Cybersecurity AI Coding Job Impact of AI Mergers and Acquisitions Space Internet Semiconductor Technology Data Privacy Public Offering Google Conductor Gemini AI Sora AI Adobe Firefly Midjourney OpenAI Images Skywork AI Coda Notion Disney+

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