--- title: "Elon Musk's SpaceX Could Gain More Power Over AI Computing Costs As Democrats Slow Data Center Expansion, Says Chamath Palihapitiya: 'The Kingmaking Move'" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/304809972.md" description: "Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya warns that Democratic-led slowdowns in data center construction could benefit SpaceX. He suggests delays may allow SpaceX to reprice its compute deal with Anthropic at higher spot rates due to a 90-day termination clause. This shift could advantage hyperscalers like Google while hurting AI developers reliant on rented capacity, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of the AI race." datetime: "2026-11-09T06:09:00.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/304809972.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/304809972.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/304809972.md) generator: "portal-rs" --- # Elon Musk's SpaceX Could Gain More Power Over AI Computing Costs As Democrats Slow Data Center Expansion, Says Chamath Palihapitiya: 'The Kingmaking Move' Venture capitalist **Chamath Palihapitiya** warned that a slowdown in data center construction under a Democratic-controlled Congress could let **Space Exploration Technologies Corp.** reprice its compute deal with **Anthropic PBC**. ## **A 90-Day Clause Gives SpaceX Leverage** On the All-In podcast released Sunday, Palihapitiya said that the SpaceX-Anthropic compute agreement has a mutual 90-day termination clause, letting either company walk away. SpaceX could then reprice the compute at spot rates he estimated at double the market rate or more, leaving Anthropic no choice but to accept. He called it “the kingmaking move.” “Odds will go up with every data center delay,” he added on **X**, as spot prices could jump 50% or more on tight supply while a seller holds a 90-day exit. > Correct. Specifically, odds will go up with every data center delay. > > And to be clear, this isn’t a commentary on Ant or SpaceX but the mathematical reality if spot prices moves by 50%+ because of the lack of supply and a seller of energized compute has a 90 day termination… https://t.co/s1MM6Gk0Az > > — Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) November 8, 2026 According to semiconductor research firm SemiAnalysis, SpaceX aims to build 13 gigawatts of AI compute capacity in 18 months, roughly what **Alphabet Inc.’s** **Google** built over nearly three decades. ## **Data Center Delays Create Winners and Losers** Incoming Democratic governors are likely to take tax breaks for data centers off the table and demand measurable economic benefits first, Palihapitiya said, which he expects to slow construction. A slowdown would help hyperscalers with existing capacity but hurt neoclouds that rent computing power and AI model developers short on capacity, he said. In Texas, where SpaceX is headquartered, Gov.-elect **Gina Hinojosa** (D) and Sen.-elect **James Talarico** (D) have raised concerns about data centers but said they are willing to work with tech companies. SpaceX **CEO Elon Musk** renewed his pitch for space-based data centers after Hinojosa’s win, saying on X Wednesday, “Data centers in space looking pretty appealing right now.” ## **Slower Buildouts Could Reshape the AI Race** Hyperscalers could also keep new capacity for their own products, Palihapitiya said. Google, for example, could give it to **Gemini**, helping that model catch up as scarcer supply forces AI labs to pay more. ### Related Stocks - [SPCX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SPCX.US.md) - [DSPC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/DSPC.US.md) - [LOFF.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/LOFF.US.md) - [SNK.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SNK.US.md) - [SPAL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SPAL.US.md) - [SPCF.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SPCF.US.md) - [SPCG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SPCG.US.md) - [SPCH.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SPCH.US.md) - [SPCM.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SPCM.US.md) - [SPCU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SPCU.US.md) - [SSPC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SSPC.US.md) - [YSPC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/YSPC.US.md) - [GOOG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOG.US.md) - [GOOGL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOGL.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [SpaceX delivered fantastic news for Qualcomm stock investors](https://longbridge.com/en/news/304646778.md) - [Can SpaceX Overcome the AI Trade Sell-Off?](https://longbridge.com/en/news/303907541.md) - [SpaceX’s Starfall just went from secret to storefront](https://longbridge.com/en/news/304063763.md) - [Jim Cramer Sees a Bigger Threat to Telecom Giants as SpaceX Courts Boost Mobile — ‘Why Do the Analysts Not Know This Stuff Could Happen?’](https://longbridge.com/en/news/303952963.md) - [SpaceX Starlink’s Telecom Ground Game Takes Shape](https://longbridge.com/en/news/304117511.md) --- > **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**