Reflection AI, a startup founded by ex-Google DeepMind researchers and backed by an open-source strategy, has inked a $150 million monthly deal with SpaceX for access to cutting-edge Nvidia AI chips.
The three-year agreement, worth up to $6.3 billion, positions Reflection as an alternative to closed labs like Anthropic and OpenAI. It’s one of the biggest open-source infrastructure commitments in history, according to a company rep.
Spaceshipping AI from Memphis, Tennessee, SpaceX has refashioned its Colossus data center – originally built for Musk's xAI – into a bustling market for top-tier AI labs. The deal signals Reflection’s strategic importance and the increasing recognition of open-source models as crucial to the tech ecosystem.
While Anthropic and Google pay hefty sums, SpaceX is more accommodating, allowing either party to terminate the contract with just 90 days' notice after the initial three months. This flexibility could be pivotal in an industry where innovation moves at breakneck speed.
