'We are going to push the limits of physics in compute': Elon Musk wants
Texas 'Terafab' plant to produce one terawatt of computing power each year
and build a global robot population using Tesla and SpaceX tech

Date:
Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:25:00 +0000

Description:
Musk outlines terafab to deliver massive compute, yet production limits, resource shortages, and launch demands raise serious feasibility concerns.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news
and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Musks Terafab aims to outproduce global chip output by fifty times Recursive manufacturing promises speed while leaving technical details unclear New physics claims remain undefined despite strong confidence from Musk Elon Musk has revealed plans for a massive expansion in computing capacity through a
new facility called Terafab in Austin, Texas.

The plant aims to generate one terawatt of computing power annually, dwarfing the current global output from chipmakers, which stands at around 20
gigawatts each year. Musk declared Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI will collaborate to achieve this scale, producing chips versatile enough for various
applications, including lithography masks. Article continues below You may like Musk says AI compute will move to space the timeline doesnt add up SpaceX and xAI merger starts a new AI space race, but big questions remain 'Tesla's chip game is no joke': Elon Musk confirms it has restarted work on its biggest supercomputer yet - but what will it actually be used for? A production system focused on speed and iteration The Terafab initiative
relies on a recursive manufacturing process that enables swift chip
production alongside iterative redesigns for better performance.

Musk refers to "some very interesting new physics" that underpins this approach, expressing confidence in its viability even if timelines remain unclear.

"We are going to push the limits of physics in compute and do some wild and crazy things," Musk said during a recent presentation.

Two primary chip types emerge from this effort: one optimized for inference tasks on Earth. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &
Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The former will primarily power humanoid robots projected to reach sales volumes between one billion and ten billion units yearly, and the latter is designed for space-based computers in satellites, starting at 100 kilowatts per unit and scaling to megawatt levels over time.

Musk anticipates robots could eventually outnumber humans within a single
year at peak production rates, raising questions about feasibility given resource constraints.

In space, satellites equipped with these chips demand enormous launch
volumes; Musk's calculations point to deploying 10 million tons of material annually, including compute hardware, solar arrays, and support structures. What to read next SpaceX has applied to launch another million satellites
into orbit Tesla thinks you might mistake its next Optimus robot for a human Meta sets up 'top-level' Compute initiative to make sure its AI data centers get all the power they need - Zuckerberg promises 'tens of gigawatts this decade, and hundreds of gigawatts or more over time'

Such ambitions necessitate a larger Starship variant capable of hauling 200 tons per flight - yet basic arithmetic indicates a requirement for roughly 50,000 launches yearly, or 135 daily, to meet the terawatt target.

Such activity amplifies vulnerabilities, including helium disruptions that already hinder semiconductor fabs by 30% due to the U.S.-Israel war in Iran.

Elon Musk did not provide a roadmap for sourcing amid these shortages, and
his track record invites scrutiny; recall Musks one million self-driving
Tesla taxis? It yielded merely 200 test units.

SpaceX faces delays too, with Starship V3 launches postponed even as boosters prepare for action.

However, Musk counters skepticism by recalling how Tesla's electric vehicles and SpaceX's reusable rockets overcame early doubts about viability and cost-effectiveness.

"I think it's important to consider the grandness of the universe and what we can do that is much greater than what we've done before, as opposed to worrying about sort of small squabbles on Earth," he remarked to an enthusiastic crowd. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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