According to a CNBC report on the 19th, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, is planning a new round of funding, aiming to raise $10 billion from investors, which would bring the company's valuation to $200 billion (approximately 1.42 trillion RMB). Notably, this comes just weeks after the company raised $10 billion in debt and equity, valuing xAI at approximately $150 billion. If the deal goes through, xAI will become one of the world's most highly valued AI startups.
However, Musk quickly responded that evening on the social media platform X, calling the report "fake news" and explicitly stating that "xAI is not currently raising any funds." This statement directly contradicts the CNBC report. In fact, xAI's valuation has fluctuated significantly over the past year: its valuation was undisclosed when it raised $6 billion in December of last year, and was pegged at $80 billion when it merged with the X platform in March of this year. Analysts believe this valuation jump reflects the market's intense interest in the AI sector, but it may also spark concerns about a bubble.
According to reports, if the financing is successful, the funds will be primarily used to build data centers equipped with Nvidia and AMD GPUs, develop next-generation AI technologies, and recruit high-end talent. xAI is currently building a large-scale AI computing cluster in Memphis, Tennessee, which aligns with Musk's plan announced in May to purchase one million AI chips. It's worth noting that Tesla's board of directors just approved Musk's new compensation package this month, potentially worth up to $975 billion, but he explicitly opposed a merger between xAI and Tesla, highlighting the strategic independence of the two companies.
