Source: The Register: Biting the hand that feeds
Google is launching modified TPUs into orbit as part of Project Suncatcher, the first real stress-test of whether specialized AI chips can operate reliably in space's radiation and thermal environment. Success would enable distributed compute infrastructure beyond Earth—reducing latency for certain applications and potentially bypassing terrestrial power constraints that limit AI's scaling. The timing matters: hyperscalers and governments are competing hard over AI infrastructure advantages, and orbital compute could shift that balance.