China’s AI Cloud Begins Its Ascent—From Space
A New Cloud Above
In an ambitious leap toward orbital computing, China has launched the first 12 satellites of a projected 2,800-satellite constellation as part of its “Sky-Cloud Project.” Developed by Chinese startup Star Vision, the network aims to create a distributed space-based AI cloud platform. Once complete, the constellation will offer real-time analytics powered by AI, delivering advanced computing capabilities directly from orbit. The initial batch, launched via a Long March 2C rocket, is intended to test computing payloads and demonstrate basic inter-satellite communication. Star Vision says its space cloud will perform on-orbit data processing, reducing reliance on ground-based data centers and enabling faster decision-making for domains like agriculture, environmental monitoring, and defense.
Starlink for Smart Data
The Space-AI Cloud parallels efforts like SpaceX’s Starlink—but with a cerebral twist. Rather than just offering broadband connectivity, Star Vision’s constellation is built to decentralize artificial intelligence processing across hundreds of satellites. Each satellite will contain compact AI chips, enabling in-orbit edge computing and minimizing latency in data analysis. With the eventual scale of 2,800 nodes, the system could become a unique alternative to traditional cloud platforms offered by Amazon, Microsoft, and Alibaba. Whether this initiative can achieve commercial scale—and whether regulatory headwinds or geopolitical tensions might slow its progress—remain key questions as China doubles down on its extraterrestrial tech ambitions.
