SpaceX explores buying data from defunct startups to train Grok AI

SpaceX is reportedly holding informal internal discussions regarding the acquisition of customer and operational records from defunct or struggling startups to train its AI models. This initiative would be managed by SpaceXAI, the company’s AI division, to provide data for its Grok chatbot.

Elon Musk has expressed ambitions to train Grok on the total sum of SpaceX information, including employee data. The move toward acquiring third-party data from failed companies follows a trend seen in the industry, such as Google’s previous bid for the data of Spirit Airlines.

While these discussions are informal and may not lead to formal deals, the strategy raises significant privacy concerns. In Europe, the Data Protection Commission has already launched an inquiry into whether the processing of user posts to train Grok models complies with legal standards.