Elon Musk's SpaceX Could Gain More Power Over AI Computing Costs As Democrats Slow Data Center Expansion, Says Chamath P…

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.

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